In this file photo taken on June 22, 1986 Argentinian forward Diego Armando Maradona (third left) runs past English defender Terry Butcher (left) on his way to dribbling goalkeeper Peter Shilton (right) and scoring his second goal, or goal of the century, during the World Cup quarterfinal football match between Argentina and England in 1986 in Mexico City. (PHOTO / STAFF / AFP)
BUENOS AIRES - Diego Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time before drug and alcohol addiction marred his career, died on Wednesday at his home in Argentina after suffering a heart attack, his lawyer said. He was 60.
Years of drug use, overeating and alcoholism truncated Maradona's stellar career and altered his appearance from a lithe athlete who could slalom effortlessly through teams to a bloated addict
Beloved in his homeland after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 and adored in Italy for taking Napoli to two Serie A titles, Maradona was a uniquely gifted player who rose from the tough streets of Buenos Aires to reach the pinnacle of his sport.
He died four years to the day after one of his political heroes, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and 15 years to the day after another troubled but talented football folk hero, George Best, whom Maradona cited as one of his boyhood inspirations.
In this June 29, 1986 photo, Diego Maradona holds up his team's trophy after Argentina's 3-2 victory over West Germany at the World Cup final soccer match at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. (CARLO FUMAGALLI / AP)
Maradona had recently battled health issues and underwent emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma several weeks ago.
He suffered a heart attack at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, acquaintances of the former player said. His death was confirmed by his lawyer.
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View of an improvised altar set up by Fans of Argentinos Juniors' football team, where Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona used to play, outside Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to mourn his dead in La Paternal neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, on Nov 25, 2020, on the day of his death. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP)
In Buenos Aires, people began pouring on to the streets to mourn the nation’s favourite son, gathering in the San Andres neighbourhood where he lived, in Boca, the gritty barrio where he first became a star, and in the nearby city of La Plata where he had lately been technical director for local team Gimnasia y Esgrima.
The Argentine government has declared three days of mourning. President Alberto Fernandez said in a tweet, “You took us to the highest point in the world, and made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thank you for having been with us, Diego. We will miss you all our lives.”
A wake would take place at Casa Rosada presidential palace from Thursday until Saturday, a government spokesman said.
This AFP graphic shows the career highlights of Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona, who died Wednesday, at the age of 60.
Pope Francis, an Argentine and a football fan, was remembering Maradona in his prayers, the Vatican said.
At Buenos Aires metro stations, digital billboards replaced messages about trains with the words: “Gracias Diego”.
In the suburb of Villa Crespo, the song “La Mano de Dios” by folk singer Rodrigo Bueno rang out from a balcony, a reference to a goal Maradona scored with his hand against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. In Argentina, Maradona has long been worshipped as ‘El Dios’ -- The God.
While that goal -- and his description of it as divine intervention -- was Maradona’s most controversial, his second in that game, where he ran through the England team to score a stunning solo goal, showcased his extraordinary dribbling and control that many view as unmatched.
In this July 08, 1990 photo, Mexican referee Ernesto Codesal Mendez gives a yellow card to Argentinian midfielder Diego Maradona (left) in Rome during the World Cup soccer final between Argentina and West Germany. (PHOTO / STAFF / AFP)
Highs and lows
As well as many match-winning performances, Maradona charmed the world with ball-juggling skills that he first showed off as a 12-year-old ball boy.
But the other side of Maradona surfaced in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when he was sent home after failing a doping test.
His last goal for Argentina came in that tournament against Greece in Boston and he celebrated by screaming angrily into a television camera.
Pele, the Brazilian footballer who is considered one of the only players to have come close to Maradona’s skill level, was quick to pay tribute to the Argentine.
“Certainly, one day we’ll kick a ball together in the sky above,” he said.
In this July 03, 2010 photo, Argentina's coach Diego Maradona hugs Argentina's striker Lionel Messi after the 2010 World Cup quarter final Argentina vs Germany at Green Point stadium in Cape Town. (JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “What Diego has done for football, for making us fall in love with this beautiful game, is unique. Diego deserves our eternal gratitude for that.”
At club level, Maradona broke on to the scene with Buenos Aires’ Boca Juniors before playing in Spain with Barcelona. He was idolised in Italy after leading Napoli to their first ever Italian league title in 1987.
The mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, called for the team’s stadium to be renamed after the player.
“Diego made our people dream, he redeemed Naples with his genius. In 2017 he became our honorary citizen, Diego, Neapolitan and Argentine, you gave us joy and happiness! Naples loves you!” he wrote on Twitter.
This handout file photo taken on Nov 11, 2020 and released by the press officer of Diego Armando Maradona shows Argentine football legend Diego Maradona (right) shaking hands with his doctor Leopoldo Luque in Olivos, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. (DIEGO MARADONA PRESS OFFICE / AFP)
Maradona-inspired street art and graffiti in the Italian city have long been tourist attractions, but he later faced tax problems in the country and in 2009 police seized his earrings in an effort to recover unpaid taxes while he was at a health clinic in northern Italy.
Maradona ended his playing career back in Argentina, returning to Boca. He had a brief and controversy-packed spell as Argentine national team coach from 2008 to 2010 before club coaching in the Middle East and Mexico.
He had five acknowledged children from relationships with several women but others have also claimed he was their father. His daughter Giannina was married for four years to Argentine player Sergio Aguero, who is a striker for the English Premier League club Manchester City.
In this June 09, 2016 photo, former Argentinian football international Diego Maradona (left) and former Brazilian footballer Pele pose after a football match organised by Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot at the Jardin du Palais Royal in Paris, on the eve of the Euro 2016 European football championships. (PATRICK KOVARIK / AFP)
Maradona became friends with Castro while receiving medical treatment in Cuba and he had tattoos of the Cuban leader and his former comrade Che Guevara. He was also a supporter of ex-Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
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Years of drug use, overeating and alcoholism truncated his stellar career and altered his appearance from a lithe athlete who could slalom effortlessly through teams to a bloated addict who nearly died of cocaine-induced heart failure in 2000.
This AFP graphic shows main reactions to the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, who died from a heart attack at the age of 60.
But at his peak he was, said Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, an “unparalleled magician”.
“Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius,” he said.
“One of the best ever. An unparalleled magician. He leaves too soon, but leaves a legacy without limits and a void that will never be filled. Rest in peace, ace. You will never be forgotten.”
A woman looks out of a window as flowers commemorating soccer legend Diego Maradona are placed beneath a mural depicting him, in Naples, southern Italy, Nov 26, 2020. Maradona died Nov 25, 2020 in Buenos Aires. (ALESSANDRA TARANTINO/AP)
This Nov, 13, 1982 photo shows Argentinian soccer player Diego Maradona wearing the color of FC Barcelona, during a friendship match against Paris Saint Germain in Paris. (JOEL ROBINE / AFP)
In this June 22, 1986 file photo, Argentina's Diego Maradona, left, beats England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton to a high ball and scores his first of two goals at the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match in Mexico City. On this day: This was the day of the "Hand of God," when Maradona used his left fist to knock a ball past England's Shilton. (PHOTO / EL GRAFICO VIA AP)
