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Many of the mourners were crying and some were wearing the World Cup winner’s No. 10 Argentina jersey when they gathered at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires to see his coffin.
Photo published by Télam of a fan looking at burning candles next to the image of Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona at the Kirchner Cultural Center (CCK) in Buenos Aires, at the beginning of November 26, 2020. Image: AFP
BUENOS AIRES – Tens of thousands of Argentines queued Thursday to see Diego Maradona for good, in an outpouring of love for their national hero before the funeral of one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Many of the mourners were crying and some were wearing the World Cup winner’s No. 10 Argentina jersey when they gathered at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires to see his coffin.
Maradona will be buried Thursday afternoon at the Jardín de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital, where his parents were also buried, his spokesman Sebastián Sanchi told AFP.
“He was the best in the world, we are going to miss him and his death broke our souls,” said Diego Armando Cabral, a 29-year-old bricklayer in Buenos Aires named after the footballer.
Tributes poured in from around the world following the death of the World Cup winner on Wednesday at the age of 60.
His career and life were sometimes tainted by a vague interpretation of the rules of the game and a crippling addiction to cocaine and alcohol.
The scandalously skilled Maradona, widely remembered for his “Hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, died of a heart attack while recovering from brain surgery.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar of today, led the tributes when he said: “He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal.”
Brazilian legend Pelé, 80, constantly compared to Maradona in the debate over the best soccer player, said he hopes one day “they will play together in heaven.”
‘GOD’S HAND’
Born into poverty in Lanús, south of Buenos Aires, on October 30, 1960, Maradona also played for Argentine clubs Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors and for Spanish giants Barcelona before becoming a hero in the working-class city of Naples, in southern Italy.
In his most infamous match, he jumped up and used his fist to score against English goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico City, without the referee seeing him. Maradona memorably describes the goal as “a little with Maradona’s head and a little with God’s hand.”
It is the goal for which he is best remembered in England, and Shilton, still bitter, told the Daily Mail: “It seems he had greatness, but sadly he had no sportsmanship.”
However, just minutes after that goal, the diminutive Maradona pushed his way past six English defenders from the halfway line to score an unforgettable solo second that has been honored as FIFA’s “Goal of the Century”.
The two contrasting goals perfectly encapsulated the blend of brilliant skill and often flamboyant demeanor that ran through Maradona’s life.
His career was crowned by his performances in that World Cup, when he was captain of Argentina to glory.
He scored two goals in the semi-final against Belgium and scored the winning goal in the 86th minute in the final against West Germany.
Maradona also inspired Argentina to the 1990 final only for West Germany to get their revenge. At the 1994 World Cup he failed a doping test and was sent home from the United States in disgrace.
Gary Lineker, who was on England’s defeated 1986 national team, called Maradona “possibly the greatest of all time,” adding in a reference to the infamous handball goal: “After a blessed but troubled life, I hope that finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego “.
Maradona’s lifestyle greatly affected his health. He was admitted to the hospital three times in the last 20 years for serious health problems.
HI DIEGO
His extraordinary talent was evident from a very young age and after starring for Boca Juniors he was transferred to Barcelona. After turbulent time in Spain, a world record transfer to Napoli came to define his career at the club.
Maradona enchanted an entire city by leading then-old-fashioned Napoli to their only two Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990, befriending a mob family along the way.
In Naples, heartbroken fans gathered at the Stadio San Paolo stadium to lay out candles, scarves and T-shirts, creating a makeshift sanctuary for their hero.
“He was our Sunday warrior,” said Fernando Carfora, 46. “Maradona didn’t play with his feet, he played with his head. No one scored Maradona’s goals.”
Maradona’s playing career went into rapid decline after leaving Napoli under a cloud in 1991 following another failed drug test.
As a coach, he led Argentina to the 2010 World Cup before going through clubs in the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and his home country, later at Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, but was never able to reach the heights of his days as player.
Maradona married his longtime girlfriend, Claudia Villafane, in 1984. They had two daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, but the relationship was marked by Maradona’s extramarital affairs and they divorced in 2004.
He also had a son, Diego Junior, born in Naples in 1986, although he only recognized paternity in 2004.
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