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New Zealand captain Sam Cane placed an All Blacks number 10 jersey with Diego Maradona’s name in the center circle before his game against Argentina in memory of the soccer legend on Saturday.
The 1986 World Cup winner, rugby fan, died in his sleep on Wednesday at age 60, plunging his South American homeland and world soccer into mourning.
Both teams met in the middle of the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, north of Sydney, before their Tri Nations clash for the tribute.
He saw Cane symbolically placing the shirt on the ground as a sign of respect ahead of his traditional haka.
There were suggestions that Nicolás Sánchez de los Pumas’ number 10 jersey could be retired for the game in honor of Maradona, who wore that number when playing for Argentina.
But he wore it as usual.
READ ALSO: Goodbye to the GOAT – Diego Maradona dies at 60
“I think he’s a legend for everyone, but in Argentina he was almost a god,” said Pumas coach Mario Ledesma, who played 84 times for his country, shortly before kickoff.
“He had the ability to bring everyone together, so we will miss him.”
Maradona was a great admirer of any Argentine sports team, and Ledesma met him several times.
“He came to many games, and he came to our locker room once after a game against him. All Blacks in La Plata; we had lost on the last ball, “he said Thursday.
“I crossed paths a couple of times, but not many. He had an attraction, the world stopped when he was there.
“I saw tennis, hockey, rugby, soccer, whenever there was an Argentina jersey, he was there and he was an example of how to represent that jersey.”
Maradona was buried on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after a ceremony attended by family and close friends, following a chaotic public wake.
Check out the heartwarming moment below:
A special gesture from the All Blacks to Argentina before tonight’s Haka.
????: @skysportnz #ARGvNZL pic.twitter.com/IRlGvmFgyV
– All blacks (@AllBlacks) November 28, 2020
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