Maradona on feet, walks around hospital room
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-29 10:45

Argentine soccer idol Diego Armando Maradona (L) hugs Cuban Dr. Pedro Llerena, director of the La Pradera health hotel, during his 41st birthday party in Havana, in this video image from October 30, 2001. [Reuters]

Diego Maradona walked around his hospital room Wednesday, and his doctors expect him to spend only a few more days in intensive care for heart and lung treatment.

The 43-year-old soccer great was on his feet for the first time after being hospitalized 11 days ago.

Doctors said he stood up twice and took steps around his room in the Suizo-Argentina clinic, according to a daily update from his medical team. He will remain in intensive care the extra days "only to help speed up his recovery."

He is tolerating a special liquid diet and is breathing unaided after a respirator was removed last weekend.

Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, reportedly asked his doctors to let him watch Wednesday's exhibition soccer game between Argentina and Morocco on TV.

Maradona was rushed to a hospital April 18 complaining of chest pains and fever. In January 2000, he was hospitalized in Uruguay and diagnosed with a severe heart condition. He later went to Cuba for drug rehabilitation.

Maradona's family has said drug problems had nothing to do with his current hospitalization.

In his 20-year career before retiring in 1997, Maradona also led Argentina to the 1990 World Cup final, and won Italian and Argentine league titles. In 2000, FIFA chose him and Pele as the best players in soccer history.

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