'I will beat illness': Maradona

Diego Maradona has vowed to fight his illness for the sake of his daughters.

The Argentinian World Cup-winner – he captained his country to success in 1986 - was discharged from hospital yesterday after lengthy treatment for smoking, dietary and alcohol-related problems

He made his first public appearance on Argentinian TV station Canal 13 and stated: “I am alive and I want to continue living for my two daughters. I am going to continue fighting until the end.”

The 46-year-old added: “I was ill, I recognise that. There were some very hard days, I do not recommend it to anybody. I made a mistake and paid a very high price.

“Today I am calm, doing the diet and taking care of myself. Now I want to rest in order to be better physically. I am not a drunk.”

Maradona has revealed his family were instrumental in his recovery.

“May 16 is the birthday of my daughter Giannina and I want to enjoy it because she helped me a lot,” he said.

“My daughters tell me ’never again dad’ and I am going to endeavour to achieve it. I want to be an example for my daughters.”