Medical update: Better than yesterday, but situation delicate

Doctors said the 43-year-old later developed pneumonia.

In the last update given early on Tuesday afternoon, Maradona’s doctors said he had shown a slight improvement but still needed help breathing and faced a long spell in hospital.

A new bulletin is expected to be given later on Wednesday.

Despite a long history of drugs abuse and other problems, which blighted his career, Maradona is still revered in Argentina and his plight has dominated the headlines in the South American nation.

Television stations have been replaying the highlights of his career, including his 1986 World Cup goal against England which is considered among the greatest of all time.

His fans have lit candles in front of the clinic and plastered goodwill messages on the walls.

On Tuesday night, officials appealed for quiet out of respect for the 160 other patients who are being treated at the clinic. This followed two days when Maradona’s fans chanted his name and passing cars and buses hooted their horns as a gesture of support.

Media reports on Wednesday said that an employee of the clinic had attempted to take a photograph of Maradona using a mobile telephone.

Maradona, who been undergoing treatment for drug abuse in Cuba since 2000, arrived in Buenos Aires last month to visit his homeland for the first time in more than a year. He felt unwell after watching his former club Boca Juniors play at home to Nueva Chicago in the Argentine championship on Sunday. (Reuters)