The former Argentina playmaker was rushed into the clinic’s intensive care unit at 6pm local time on Sunday suffering with heart, hypertension and breathing difficulties.

Earlier he had been to watch his old team Boca Juniors play at home to Nueva Chicago and his personal physician Dr Alfredo Cahe admitted he was surprised at the ex-footballer’s sudden illness.

“I do a daily check on Diego and he was fine,” said Dr Cahe on the steps of the clinic.

Cahe also strongly dismissed reports that Maradona’s illness was related to a drugs overdose.

“He got a cold because on Saturday he played golf until late,” said Cahe.

“On Sunday, after watching Boca Juniors’ match against Nueva Chicago, he felt ill, with sickness, vomiting and high temperature, so we decided to enter him into the hospital,” he explained.

“I’m concerned about the huge amount of stupid things that some journalists have said.

“It’s unbelievable. This has no relation at all with his addiction.”

Maradona has a history of drug and health problems.

Back in 2000 he suffered a severe heart condition due to a cocaine overdose and was submitted to a hospital in Uruguay.

He consequently began a long period of recovery in Cuba before returning to Argentina last month.

During his career he was also banned twice for failing dope tests.

In 1991 he received a 15 month suspension after testing positive for cocaine while playing in Italy’s Serie A and during the 1994 World Cup he was sent home and banned for the same length of time.

Maradona, one of the greatest players ever to play the game, is often remembered for the infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident during Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup quarter-final on June 22, 1986.

In front of 114,580 spectators in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, Maradona punched the ball over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton but Tunisian referee Ali Bennaceur allowed the goal to stand.

In the same game Maradona scored what most people recognise as the greatest goal ever scored as his jinking left half the England team on the floor before firing home.

Argentina went on to beat West Germany in the World Cup final that summer and Maradona again helped them reach the final in 1990 which they lost.

He has not played professional football since 1997 after failing a drugs test when he began his fifth comeback for Boca Juniors.

Boca president Mauricio Macri revealed that cocaine was found in his urine in a dope test taken following the first match of the season against Argentinos Juniors.