Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona scored a litigation victory in a Miami-Dade courtroom, when an appellate panel ruled his case against ex-wife Claudia Rosana Villafane can be tried in Miami.

Maradona, nicknamed “the Hand of God,” for his stunning goal during the 1986 World Cup, accuses his former spouse of fraud, conversion and unjust enrichment. He claimed Villafane secretly used his money to buy and sell six Miami Beach condos, which she failed to declare when the former high-school sweethearts divided their assets during what was originally an amicable divorce.

“His wife at the time betrayed his trust,” said Maradona's lawyer, Eduardo F. Rodriguez of EFR Law Firm in Palmetto Bay. “He was a very trusting guy and allowed her to manage their finances when they were married, and she took advantage of that.”

Maradona's 2015 complaint opens with, “Plaintiff is universally regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time.” It then goes on to allege, ”Following their divorce, it became clear that Villafane had embezzled and/or misappropriated millions of dollars from him.”

Click here to read the complaint

Maradona is also suing five shell companies, named after their daughters, that Villafane allegedly used to hold the properties she had purchased.

Villafane, meanwhile, denied any wrongdoing. She also argued that Argentina was the appropriate venue for the case, while here ex-husband claimed the Argentine statute of limitations have already expired.

Brian Barakat of Barakat Law in Miami. Courtesy photo.

“These events are ancient,” said Villafane's lawyer, Brian Barakat of Barakat Law in Miami. “But what's most important is that the allegations, old or new, Argentinian or American, they just aren't true.”

But Maradona's attorney, Rodriguez, said Villafane's motion to dismiss was “an absurd position,” arguing there was no reason for Florida transactions to be litigated in Argentina.

The appellate court agreed, upholding the trial court's ruling that the case should proceed in Miami. Third DCA Judge Robert J. Luck wrote the Aug. 8 opinion on behalf of the panel, comprised of Chief Judge Leslie B. Rothenberg and Judge Vance E. Salter.

Maradona might have scored with this latest decision, but as far as Barakat is concerned, that doesn't mean he'll win the match.

Barakat plans to bring up email evidence that allegedly shows the two discussing a Miami apartment, to prove a theory that Maradona only brought the suit when he learned Villafane had a new man in her life.

“When that occurred, their relationship soured and [Maradona] became angry,” Barakat said. “Now, all of a sudden, he decides he's going to sue her for this apartment that she's been vacationing at with her children in Miami for years.”

Maradona is pleased with the decision, and, according to Rodriguez, looks forward to discovery and “understanding the breadth” of what he considers to be a fraudulent scheme.

“He wants to get his day in court in Florida,” Rodriguez said.

Argentinian tabloids are lapping up the story, according to Barakat, which he says has been hard on his client.

“[Villafane] has a wealthy, powerful, unscrupulous ex-husband who is willing to use his money to make her life miserable because he can,” Barakat said.

The couple married in 1989, three years after Maradona led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and was crowned the most valuable player of the tournament.

“My client is the one with the soccer career,” Rodriguez said. “He's the one that earned the money that was invested. [Villafane] had significant assets of his in her hands, and she didn't disclose them or bother letting him know, and he wants justice at this point.”

Read the court opinion: