Football icon Diego Maradona today lashed out at Pele, saying his fellow football icon should stop criticising him.

Maradona is in Cannes to promote a documentary on his extraordinary life by the Serbian director Emir Kusturica, which is showing out of competition this evening.

The Argentinian star - notorious for his "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup - said Pele should ease off with his criticism, because the Brazilian star also had a "dark side", and had done things he would prefer remained secret.

Kusturica's Maradona traces the footballer's story from humble beginnings to world domination, tragic fall and re-birth. The director has twice won the Palme d'Or, Cannes's top prize.

"He too has a dark side," Maradona told a packed press conference.

"I'm familiar with a lot of stories about him (Pele). I think he had better keep quiet,"

"His way of talking about me is undignified."

Pele has said Maradona's World Cup winners' medals should be taken from him because of his drugs offences. The Argentine has fought a long battle with cocaine addiction.

The film shows three different incarnations of Maradona: the footballer, the family man and the critic of US foreign policy.

Maradona befriended former Cuban leader Fidel Castro while being treated for drink and drug addiction in Cuba, and is also friendly with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Maradona is the second sportsman with a colourful background to be the subject of a film showing in the festival this year, following Tyson, the documentary about boxer Mike Tyson.

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