Argentina football legend Diego Maradona dies aged 60
Diego Maradona, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, has died at the age of 60, the Argentine Football Association has announced.
He reportedly suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home.
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Hide AdMaradona, a World Cup winner with Argentina and the national team’s former manager, had surgery earlier in the month to remove a blood clot on the brain.
The AFA said on Twitter: “The Argentine Football Association, through its president Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona. You will always be in our hearts.”
La Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, a través de su Presidente Claudio Tapia, manifiesta su más profundo dolor por el fallecimiento de nuestra leyenda, Diego Armando Maradona. Siempre estarás en nuestros corazones 💙 pic.twitter.com/xh6DdfCFed
— AFA (@afa) November 25, 2020
Maradona was a maestro on the pitch, his low centre of gravity making him almost unplayable at times.
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Hide AdHe captained Argentina on their way to a World Cup victory in 1986, and almost single-handedly transformed the fortunes of Italian side Napoli where he won two Serie A titles.
He also led his country to the final of the 1990 World Cup in Italy and managed them in South Africa in 2010.
But Maradona was also one of football's most controversial figures.
This was never better encapsulated than in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals against England, in his iconic 'Hand of God' goal but also in the second goal he scored, an amazing piece of solo skill.
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Hide AdMaradona was a notorious party animal, and his international playing career ended in shame when he failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup. He was also banned from football in 1991 after testing positive for cocaine while playing for Napoli.
Diego Maradona attends the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina (Photo: Getty)
However, he remained an iconic figure at the Italian club, and is revered as a football god in his native Argentina.
He also played for Barcelona, Sevilla, Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys and was most recently manager of Gimnasia y Esgrima in La Plata, Argentina.
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Hide AdTributes from the world of football
As news of Maradona's death emerged, the football world paid tribute to one of its all-time greats, with Gary Lineker tweeting that the Argentine was "arguably the greatest of all time".
Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 25, 2020
Privileged to have met him. Very sad news. RIP Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/x2LcIeQPqr
— Harry Kane (@HKane) November 25, 2020
Football has lost one of its greatest icons.Rest in peace, Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/uGIinhLDgf
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 25, 2020
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Hide AdSad to hear Diego Maradona passed away 😥 The man that made number 10 a legendary number to me. Football lost one of its greatest.. You will be missed but forever remembered ❤️🐐 #Maradona #10 pic.twitter.com/UEhyDHY6Cu
— Rafael van der Vaart (@rafvdvaart) November 25, 2020
Mon idole est décédée,RIP Diego Armando Maradona, my first ever football shirt, the man behind my love for football Gracias El Pibe 💔🇦🇷 🇦🇷 🇦🇷 🇦🇷 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/Xns3Z72pxt
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) November 25, 2020
We're joining the footballing world in saying farewell to one of the absolute greats.RIP Diego Maradona 💙 pic.twitter.com/n16SGF3KXn
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 25, 2020