Limited Series
7 episodes Nov 12, 2019
Overview
The Dorados, Culiacan's local team, are at the bottom of the rankings when Maradona arrives, looking for a fresh start. The experts predict disaster.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 7 episodes
- First aired
- Nov 13, 2019
- Last aired
- Nov 13, 2019
- Episode length
- 39m
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S1 E7 One Last Push (Nov 13, 2019)
Cast
Reviews
5 min readThe Man Who Carried a Stadium in His Shadow
I’ve seen enough sports documentaries to know the formula: underdog team, charismatic coach, a few montages of sweat and slow-motion goals, and a triumphant climax that leaves you pumping your fist. Maradona in Mexico doesn’t break that mold so much as it sets it on fire and dances in the ashes. Because the underdog here isn’t the team—it’s the man himself, Diego Maradona, a legend so heavy with myth and misfortune that watching him try to outrun his own legacy in the dusty heat of Culiacán feels less like a comeback story and more like a slow, hypnotic unraveling.
The series follows Maradona during his brief but surreal tenure as head coach of Dorados de Sinaloa, a second-division Mexican football club. The premise alone is irresistible: the most infamous and beloved footballer of his generation, fresh off a stint in rehab, taking over a team in a city synonymous with the Sinaloa Cartel. The optics, as critics have noted, are terrible—like "putting a diabetic in a candy shop," as one reviewer put it [3].
But that’s the thing about Maradona: he’s always been a walking contradiction, a man who could dribble past five defenders with the grace of a ballet dancer and then, in the same breath, punch a journalist or disappear into a haze of cocaine and chaos. The series doesn’t shy away from any of it. Instead, it leans in, framing his time in Mexico as both a redemption arc and a last gasp of defiance.
What makes Maradona in Mexico more than just a footnote in the man’s already overstuffed biography is its refusal to mythologize. Director Angus Macqueen, whose previous work includes Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty, brings a documentarian’s eye for the mundane details that humanize his subject. We see Maradona not as the godlike figure of 1986, but as a 58-year-old man with a paunch, a limp, and a phone that never stops ringing.
He’s equal parts coach, father figure, and circus act, leading training sessions with the intensity of a general while also breaking into impromptu dance moves in the locker room. The players, many of them young and starstruck, oscillate between treating him like a deity and a slightly unhinged uncle. One moment, he’s delivering a fiery halftime speech; the next, he’s joking about his infamous "Hand of God" goal or mimicking the walk of a referee he disagrees with.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.1/10
"A raw and intimate look at Maradona’s later years, offering fans a rare glimpse into his life beyond football, though it struggles to fully escape familiar documentary tropes."
Viewers appreciate the series for its unfiltered portrayal of Diego Maradona during his time in Mexico, highlighting his charisma and the complexities of his personal life. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, some find the documentary format predictable, with pacing and depth issues preventing it from standing out as a definitive account of his legacy.
What viewers praise
- Intimate portrayal Offers a rare and personal look at Maradona’s life outside of his football career, resonating with fans who want to see the man behind the legend.
- Maradona’s charisma His larger-than-life personality and candid moments make the series engaging for those who admire his impact on football and culture.
- Unique setting The Mexican backdrop provides a fresh context for Maradona’s story, distinct from his more widely documented European years.
Common complaints
- Predictable format Relies on familiar documentary storytelling techniques, which some viewers find uninspired or lacking in innovation.
- Pacing issues The series occasionally drags, with moments that feel repetitive or overly drawn out.
- Limited depth While it offers glimpses into Maradona’s life, some viewers feel it doesn’t delve deeply enough into the broader context of his struggles and triumphs.
Recommended for
Maradona fans Football documentary lovers Behind-the-scenes story seekers Latin American sports culture enthusiasts
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsMaradona in Mexico: The Untold Story Behind the Netflix Docuseries
Diego Maradona’s legacy is etched in football history, but Maradona in Mexico (2019) offers a rare glimpse into the icon’s life beyond the pitch—specifically, his chaotic, captivating stint in Mexico. Directed by Angus Macqueen, the Netflix docuseries follows Maradona as he takes on a coaching role with second-division club Dorados de Sinaloa, a far cry from the World Cup glory he once commanded. latestnetflix.com's view is that but how did this project come together, and what really went down behind the scenes?
From World Cup Legend to Mexican Underdog
Maradona’s connection to Mexico is legendary, thanks to his 1986 World Cup heroics, including the infamous "Hand of God" goal and the "Goal of the Century" against England 
. But Maradona in Mexico isn’t about revisiting those moments—it’s about the man’s attempt to reinvent himself in a country that still adored him. The series captures his time coaching Dorados, a team with modest ambitions but a fanbase hungry for a miracle. The contrast between Maradona’s global stardom and the gritty reality of Mexican second-division football is a central theme, though the series doesn’t shy away from his personal struggles either.
Behind the Scenes: A Docuseries Born of Chaos
The project was reportedly greenlit by Netflix after Maradona’s surprising decision to take the Dorados job in 2018. Sources suggest the streaming giant saw an opportunity to document a side of Maradona rarely seen—vulnerable, ambitious, and fighting to stay relevant . The series is structured as a fly-on-the-wall documentary, with cameras capturing everything from Maradona’s fiery team talks to his off-field antics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtphytYuRlg
But the production wasn’t without drama. Rumors (unconfirmed) swirled about clashes between Maradona and the club’s management, as well as his well-documented battles with health and personal demons. The series doesn’t delve too deeply into these tensions, instead focusing on the on-field drama and Maradona’s magnetic personality. Still, the trailer hints at the emotional rollercoaster of his time in Mexico, with Maradona himself admitting, "I came here to win, but I also came here to feel alive again" .
Reception and Legacy
Maradona in Mexico earned a solid 7.1/10 rating on SensCritique, with viewers praising its raw, unfiltered portrayal of the football legend . Unlike Asif Kapadia’s Diego Maradona (2019), which took a more retrospective, biographical approach , this series is all about the present—Maradona as a coach, a leader, and a man still chasing redemption.
The docuseries also stands out for its supporting cast, including Jarrod Pistilli, Dennis Kleinman, and Vanessa Nicole Hill, who add depth to the narrative. While Maradona remains the undeniable star, their perspectives help paint a fuller picture of his time in Mexico.
The Bigger Picture
At its core, Maradona in Mexico is a story of reinvention. For a man who defined an era of football, the series shows him grappling with a new role in a new country, far from the spotlight of Europe’s elite clubs. Whether he succeeded is almost beside the point—the real draw is watching Maradona, flaws and all, in a setting that feels both familiar and entirely new.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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