Maradona becomes father for fifth time

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)

HEAR US OUT!

FOX Soccer's Blog offers unique coverage of the world game. Join us.

Diego Maradona is a father again after his long-time partner Veronica Ojeda gave birth to a baby boy who has been named Diego Fernando Maradona Ojeda.

Jorge Auruccio, the lawyer for Ojeda, said the baby weighed 3.2 kilograms (7 pounds) and was born on Wednesday at 11:57 p.m. local time in a Buenos Aires hospital. He said the mother and child were in ''perfect'' shape.

The 52-year-old Maradona has two daughters from his marriage with Claudia Vallafane - Dalma and Giannina. The Argentine football great has two other children he has never recognized as his, although courts in paternity cases have ruled he's the father.

Auruccio said Maradona was in Dubai but was ''absolutely aware of everything including the state of health of the mother and baby.''

Maradona has another son named Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra, who was born in Italy when Maradona was playing there.

''A judge has obliged me to pay support, but that does not obligate me to feel love for him,'' Maradona said in 2005.

His fourth child, a girl named Jana Maradona, was born in 1996, offspring of a relationship with an Argentine woman.

A court ruled both children can use the Maradona family name.