Maradona: The Movie coming soon

'The Hand of God' will chart the rise and fall of the famous footballer.

Aug 10 2005

Italian director Marco Risi is planning to make a film about Argentine football legend Diego Maradona.

A biopic that charts the ups and downs of Maradona's remarkable career, it will be called 'The Hand of God', in reference to the wee man's famous punched goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals.

Argentina went on to win the trophy that year, and soon after his footballing genius helped Napoli win the Italian league in 1987 and 1990.

At the same time, well-publicised problems with drugs and frequent run-ins with the law often threatened to overshadow his on-field exploits.

Nevertheless, he is still seen as one of the greatest footballers of all time, and Risi says that the film will concentrate on many of his most glorious moments in the game.

'I think of him as a genius' he told Italian newspaper La Republica. 'Soccer exists before and after Maradona. It's like Van Gogh in painting or Charlie Parker in music.'

'Like Water for Chocolate' star Marco Leonardi is currently in talks to play the lead role, with production set to kick off in October.

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