He needed 10 stitches in his lip and will have to rest for three days, a medical source at Los Arcos clinic In Buenos Aries said.

Maradona was playing with his Shar Pei, named Bela, when it bit him at his home.

An official at the clinic said Maradona, 49, who currently coaches the national team, was discharged yesterday and was in good condition following surgery on his upper lip.

Maradona did not speak to reporters but his personal press officer Fernando Molina said: 'He's already at home and he's in good spirits.'

Shar Pei are often used as a guard dog, though they are known to adjust well to family situations.

A clinic spokesman said: 'He was evaluated by plastic surgeons and taken to an operating room, where they carried out reconstructive surgery on his upper lip.'

He was given tetanus and rabies shots at the clinic.

Regarded as one of the world's greatest players, Maradona is worshipped in Argentina despite years of scandal involving drug addiction, overeating and alcoholism.

He retired from football in 1997 and almost died in 2000 from heart problems related to his cocaine use.

In 2005, he had a gastric bypass after his weight ballooned to about 250 pounds.

He has been involved recently in fresh controversy over the poor play of the Argentinian team, which scraped into the World Cup after poor qualification performances despite the presence of some of the world's top players, including Barcelona star Lionel Messi. It had to win its last game, away to Uruguay, to qualify.

He is as well known for his off-field exploits as he is for his at times controversial efforts on the field, which included the infamous Hand of God goal against England in the 1986 quarter final, which Argentina went on to win.

Argentina will play in Group B of the World Cup in South Africa with Nigeria, Greece and South Korea.