Maradona death trial: official expert does not rule out covid-19 as cause

The trial over Diego Armando Maradona's death took an unexpected turn on Tuesday as it nears its final stage. Pablo Ferrari, an official court expert and the last witness called before the tribunal in San Isidro, stated that covid-19 cannot be ruled out as the cause of the former footballer's death, a possibility that had not surfaced during the previous 43 hearings.

• Pablo Ferrari was the final witness in the trial and surprised the court with an unprecedented theory.
• The expert said covid-19 cannot be ruled out as the cause of Maradona's death.
• He called the absence of a coronavirus test during the autopsy a methodological error.
• He described an agony of only a few minutes, contrasting with official experts who spoke of up to 12 hours.
• The next hearing is set for September 29, when defendants will expand their statements.

The covid-19 theory emerges in the final stretch of the trial

During his testimony, Ferrari noted that the coronavirus could enter through the respiratory tract and prove fulminant in its virulence, capable of killing a patient within hours. Maradona died on November 25, 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, while receiving home care at a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

The expert was emphatic about the lack of a coronavirus test during the autopsy. According to Ferrari, failing to perform one was a procedural mistake, opening the door to an alternative explanation for the death of the 1986 World Cup winner.

A short agony versus the 12-hour theory in the Maradona case

Ferrari's testimony also introduced a different reading of Maradona's final moments. Based on his analysis, the football legend accumulated fluid in his lungs over a short period, possibly minutes or a few hours, and that drowning led to cardiac arrest. That is why he stated the agony must have been brief.

This view clashes with what other official experts said at the start of the trial, when they described an agony that could have lasted 12 hours. Although some specialists called by the defendants had already argued the death was sudden, Ferrari is the first official expert to support that position, making his testimony valuable for Leopoldo Luque's defense.

Leopoldo Luque's role in the Maradona death trial

Leopoldo Luque is considered the main defendant in the case and has been portrayed throughout the hearings as the doctor in charge of the former footballer's health. Ferrari took part in an expert review requested in 2025 by Luque's defense, and his conclusions about a sudden death could strengthen the neurosurgeon's position against the charge of simple homicide with eventual intent.

The trial began on April 14 at the San Isidro courts and included 76 witnesses before Ferrari's appearance. Alongside Luque, the defendants are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, Swiss Medical home care coordinator Nancy Forlini, psychologist Carlos Díaz, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, nurse Ricardo Almirón and clinician Pedro Di Spagna.

Trial schedule: what comes next after the final witness

With the testimony phase closed, the court set September 29 for the next hearing, when the defendants will begin expanding their statements. Closing arguments are scheduled to start on October 6, and the process is expected to run until the end of that month.

The outcome of the trial keeps Argentine football and Maradona's followers around the world on edge. The emergence of covid-19 as a possible cause of death and the debate over the length of his agony will be central issues in the final discussion between the parties.