Iglesia Maradoniana (The Church of Maradona)

The Iglesia Maradoniana (Church of Maradona) is a parody religion founded by supporters of the former Argentine footballer Diego Armando Maradona, whom they consider the greatest player in the world and the God of football.

This religious parody was born on 30 October 1998 (Maradona's thirty-eighth birthday) in the city of Rosario, when two Argentine journalists, Hernán Amez and Alejandro Verón, jokingly began celebrating Diego Maradona's birthday as though it were Christmas Day[1][2]. They were joined by Héctor Capomar and, the following year, by Federico Canepa. It was these four who invented (always in a light-hearted spirit) and made public in 2001 this new religion, setting the start of the Maradonian Era in 1960 as "year 0": 2015 is therefore considered year 55 D.D. (Despues de Diego, After Diego).

Today, this parody "cult" has more than 120,000 followers in over 60 countries and 600 cities worldwide (mostly in Argentina), including other renowned footballers such as Ronaldinho, Michael Owen, Riquelme and Lionel Messi, other well-known figures such as Emanuel Ginóbili, and even Maradona's "discoverer", Francisco Cornejo. Maradona himself, speaking about the devotion shown to him, once said:

« Ai fondatori di questo movimento e ai tifosi coinvolti, vi ringrazio di cuore per tenermi così presente nella vostra mente e nel vostro cuore. Grazie. » (To the founders of this movement and to the fans involved, I thank you from my heart for keeping me so present in your mind and in your heart. Thank you.) Doctrine: Maradonism is regarded as a form of syncretism, rooted in the passion for the game of football and for Maradona: this is why the divinity is not something immaterial, but a simple mortal who plays football (divinely, according to the dogma). This does not clash with religion, particularly the Christian faith practised by most Maradonians: as one of the founders, Alejandro Verón, once put it: "Noi abbiamo un Dio razionale e un Dio passionale, che è sempre Diego Maradona" (We have a rational God and a passionate God, who is always Diego Maradona).
The aim of the creed is to keep alive the memory and the joy given by the play of D10s Maradona (a tetragram formed from the Spanish word Dios (God) fused with the number 10 on the Argentine player's shirt).

Sacraments and Festivities

A mural of "la mano de Dios" (the hand of God) in Helsinki, Finland. The religion has adopted some of the Christian sacraments and festivities, adapting them to honour D10s:
Baptism of a new believer is performed by swearing on the player's autobiography, Yo soy el Diego (I am Diego); Marriage is performed by swearing on the book and on a football, with an exchange of rings in front of a poster of Maradona also taking place. The first wedding of this kind was celebrated on 22 November 2006 between Mauricio Bustamante and Jaquelin Veròn; Christmas is celebrated on the night between 29 and 30 October every year: in 2003 one of Maradona's daughters, Dalma, attended the ceremony; Easter is celebrated on 22 June, the day on which, in 1986, the Argentina–England match was played, in which Maradona scored the Mano de Dios goal. The Ten Commandments: The ball must never be dishonoured, as D10s proclaimed in his book; Love football above all things; Declare your unconditional love for football; Defend Argentina's shirt, respecting the people; Spread the word of Diego Maradona throughout the universe; Praise the temples where he preached and their sacred mantles; Do not proclaim Diego's name in the name of a single club; Follow the principles of the Maradonian Church; Use Diego as a middle name and give it to one of your children; Do not be a hothead. Prayers: Like much of the creed, the prayers too are parodies of Christianity.

Il Diego nostro (Our Diego — a parody of the Lord's Prayer)

Our Diego, who art on the pitch, hallowed be thy left foot. Thy football come, thy goals be exalted, on earth as they are in heaven. Give us this day our daily dose of magic, forgive the English, as we forgive the camorra napoletana (the Neapolitan mafia). Lead us not into offside, and deliver us from Havelange and Pelé, Diego
Creed: « Credo in Diego, calciatore onnipotente, creatore di magia e passione. Credo nel Pelusa, nostro D10s, nostro Signore, che fu concepito per opera e grazia di Tota e Don Diego. Nacque a Villa Fiorito, subì il potere di Havelange. Fu crocifisso, ucciso e maltrattato, allontanato dai campi, gli furono tagliate le gambe. Però si voltò e resuscitò il suo incantesimo. Sarà sempre dentro i nostri cuori, per sempre e per l'eternità. Credo nella spirito del calcio, nella santa Iglesia Maradoniana, nel gol agli Inglesi, nel sinistro magico, nel mitico tunnel indiavolato e nel Diego eterno. Diego. » (I believe in Diego, the almighty footballer, creator of magic and passion. I believe in Pelusa, our D10s, our Lord, who was conceived by the power and grace of Tota and Don Diego. He was born in Villa Fiorito, and suffered under the power of Havelange. He was crucified, killed and mistreated, driven from the pitch, his legs cut from under him. But he turned and his magic rose again. He will always be in our hearts, forever and for eternity. I believe in the spirit of football, in the holy Iglesia Maradoniana, in the goal against the English, in the magic left foot, in the legendary, devilish dribble, and in the eternal Diego. Diego.)

Salve D10s (Hail D10s — a parody of the Hail Mary)

« D10s ti salvi palla, piena di magia, il Diego è con te. Tu sei benedetta tra le altre, e benedetto è il Diego che non ti deve mancare. Santa rotonda, madre del gol, prega per noi giocatori, adesso e nell'ora del nostro incontro... Diego. » (Hail D10s, ball full of magic, Diego is with thee. Blessed art thou among all others, and blessed is the Diego thou must never lack. Holy round one, mother of the goal, pray for us players, now and at the hour of our meeting... Diego.)

(source: Wikipedia)

"Only Maradona Can Judge Me" — T-shirt For the faithful of the Iglesia Maradoniana. The T-shirt that celebrates the D10S of world football. 20,00 € Buy now →