A blonde bombshell got her big break as a glamour model thanks to the patronage of the one and only Diego Maradona.
The Argentina icon changed the course of football history with his achievements for club and country - lifting two Serie A titles with Napoli and the World Cup with La Albiceleste. While it's not quite as seismic as his on-field exploits , he also set Antonela Avellaneda on a different path, by funding her first naked photoshoot.
El Diego, who would have celebrated his 64th birthday last week but for his untimely death in November 2020, loved the company of beautiful women almost as much as he adored the beautiful game. And according to Antonela, he took a shine to her when she was still a starry-eyed teenager.
For the curvaceous beauty, a Maradona fanatic who has since become a reality TV star and Playboy model, the shoot was a dream come true. Speaking to Splash in the summer of 2023, she described the football genius as "the love of my life".
Antonella said: "Diego is the love of my life. My star, idol. I met him when I was very young. I sold this type of shoot. It was just exclusive.
Antonela Avellaneda says she got her big break thanks to Diego Maradona
"My video never went viral. We did shoots in more exotic places, with exotic costumes."
Well before the days of social media, the now 42-year-old explained how she captured Maradona's attention. She said: "I sold it to him in a book.
"It was really cool. He was able to see in me a star and beauty that I didn't realise.
"For me, it was a huge force, a star of his size and he spoke to me: 'You are the most famous woman I know in my life'.
Antonela Avellaneda now sells racy content to VIP clients
"For me, it was an honour. I miss him so much."
On what she did with the money, she revealed: "I was 18-years-old, I paid for Digital Marketing college.
"I helped my family. I set up a store, I bought a car at the time, a Corsa. It was my first car, it was great.
"I invested in my career in modelling. I travelled to Chile, to Mexico.
Antonela Avellaneda spent the money from her first nude photoshoot on college and a new Corsa
Antonela Avellaneda says Diego Maradona changed her life
"For me, it was very good because, otherwise, I would never have arrived in Brazil."
Antonela, who was born in Argentina but is a naturalised Brazilian citizen, made headlines when she posed for Playboy Portugal in 2019.
She had previously been on the cover of the men's - ahem - lifestyle and entertainment magazine twice, in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
Antonela Avellaneda now sells raunchy content to an exclusive selection of clients
Antonela, who wowed fans in South America when she participated in the fourth edition of Big Brother Brazil, didn't stop there - she also competed for the prestigious title of 'Miss Butt Brazil'.
Antonella explained that she had since sold raunchy content to VIP clients. "It's directly with me through my Instagram, exclusive content," she said.
"As I've already done Playboy, my exposure has already been too much. I do rehearsals every week, but I sell exclusively to VIP clients."
WEST Ham star Michail Antonio has posted an emotional message online for the first time since he was discharged from hospital following his horror car crash.The Hammers striker broke his leg in the smash involving his £260,000 Ferrari, which saw him airlifted to hospital earlier this month.Michail Antonio has posted an emotional message after being discharged from hospitalThe Hammers star bro...
BURNLEY have signed defender Oliver Sonne from Danish outfit Silkeborg.The Peru right-back becomes Clarets boss Scott Parker’s first signing of the January window and has penned a four-and-a-half-year deal.Oliver Sonne has signed for Championship side BurnleySonne, 24, is the nephew of supermodel Helena Christensen and played more than 100 times in Denmark’s top flight.After his revea...
ENGLAND star Kieran Trippier is locked in a feud with his estranged wife Charlotte over their three kids.The 34-year-old footballer broke one of their key parenting rules following their split - leaving his former missus raging.Kieran Trippier with wife Charlotte and their three childrenCharlotte on holiday in Greece this summerThe Newcastle player - who earns £130,000-a-week - was slapped do...
KYLE WALKER enjoyed a night at Ally Pally to watch the World Darts Championship.The Manchester City captain headed to the Palace to watch on as Luke Littler took to the oche in darts' premier competition.Kyle Walker attended the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra PalaceWalker was in the crowd enjoying his night after The Sun exclusively revealed that he did not send Christmas gifts to his t...
CHLOE KELLY went from the Wetihad to Sunsetihad - as the Manchester City star swapped wintry England for balmy Dubai.The Lionesses winger treated herself to a luxury holiday, and her fans to some sizzling photos, as she jetted away with new husband Scott Moore.Chloe Kelly's admirers were thrilled by her yacht snapsThe Etihad ace is making the most of a month-long break in the Women's Super League....
RUBEN AMORIM showed his class by giving a young Manchester United fan an once-in-a-lifetime tour around Carrington in his car.The Red Devils manager has only been in charge since mid-November.Ruben Amorim gave a young fan a tour of Carrington in his carBut he has already endeared himself to the United faithful with a new style and high hopes for the future.Results are yet to go Amorim’s way,...
Haaland scored his first goal in five games as City secured a much-needed victory over Leicester on Sunday.Guardiola casually revealed Haaland has welcomed his first child into the world with girlfriend Isabel JohansenAnd his boss revealed the strike came at the end of a memorable week for the Norwegian superstar and partner Isabel Johansen.Guardiola, who celebrated his 500th game in charge with h...
The former Arsenal star took to the slopes during the Bundesliga's winter break.Granit Xhaka showed off a new look while on holidayThe midfielder has gone for a buzzcutXhaka, 32, left the Gunners in 2023 for Bayer Leverkusen and has become one of the side's key players.He played a crucial role in the team winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal last term.This included a run of 51 matches unbeaten und...
The Blues midfielder stunned everyone - including the pretty brunette - by telling her earlier this year he wanted to end their six-year relationship.Enzo Fernandez's ex-fiance is jetting into London for New YearThe pair split unexpectedly in October and share two children togetherValentina jetted back to Argentina but will return to the capital for December 31The 24-year-old beauty moved back to ...
Annie and Kyle spent Christmas Day together despite her filing for divorce in OctoberThe Man City star, 34, worth an estimated £27million, missed out son Kairo and daughter Kinara for a second year despite promising friends he'd do the "right thing".It has left Lauryn feeling the humbug spirit, say sources.One said: "All of their mutual friends have talked to Kyle."They feel really upset for ...
