They hoped Friday's commemoration will spur the national team at the Qatar World Cup ahead of a must-win game on Saturday.
The South Americans, who idolise Maradona, play Mexico in a make-or-break match after the team led by Lionel Messi fell to a shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia.
Argentine urban artist Alfredo Segatori made an 11-metre painting of Maradona, portraying him smiling, sporting a Boca Juniors shirt and the Argentine flag, the World Cup trophy hanging from an earring, and wearing a turban in reference to 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"I hope (the painting) reaches the national team and motivates them for Saturday," 52-year-old Segatori said.
The gold framed painting shows Maradona as a regular fan supporting the team. "We all want him to be there cheering," he added.
The painting, installed next to advertising hoardings on a central avenue, adds to a proliferation of Maradona images in the city, including a giant mural by artist Martin Ron daubed on to a 13-storey building, completed a month ago.
Maradona died of cardiac arrest, aged 60, on November 25, 2020, after battling drug and alcohol abuse for years.
One of the greatest players in history, Maradona won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina and led them to the 1990 final when they lost to Germany.
Meanwhile, a few thousand Argentina fans gathered at Doha's historic Souq Waqif market to pay tribute to Maradona and show their support to the national team.
They filled the streets with the blue-and-white Argentina flag and chanted Maradona songs.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said before Saturday's decisive match that he hoped to "bring some joy to Maradona if he is looking down at us from the sky" against Mexico.
"Every time we see images of him, it's unbelievable he is not here with us," he said.
with ap
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