Buenos Aires – People planted flowers and burning candles under the mural of Diego Maradona outside the stadium here which is his name. One person cries incessantly.
At the Bellisk in central Buenos Aires, another man waved a banner depicting Mr. Maradona, saying, “God is Argentina.”
Wednesday saw a sense of distrust in Argentina as soccer star died that morning at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires. The government declared three days of mourning.
Often referred to as one of the best players in the game, Mr. Maradona was highly respected by his fellow Argentines – not only for his prowess on the field, but also for his rise from poverty to global stardom. He also served as a national hero, as well as his personal life, which included long-term drug and alcohol abuse, making him a fodder worldwide.
People all over the country have always referred to “El Diego” in honor of the man, with some choosing Buenos Aires Stadium, where he started as a young player at the Argentinos Juniors Club in 1976, and later renamed. .
“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw him,” said Hugo Daniel Sanueste, 66, who said he had seen Mr Maradona’s second match at the stadium. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
But the Argentines were also mourning the late born to see him play face to face.
“I think a member of my family just died,” said Joachim N’Page Caston, 19. My whole life I wanted to play soccer like Maradona. “
Mr Mara Radona underwent brain surgery earlier this month and has had a number of medical problems in the past. But his death, which a spokesman said was due to a heart attack, still came as a shock to many.
“It was Maradona, he always managed to move on,” said DeGiere, 19.
Many venues around Buenos Aires became places of outdoor mourning for fans, with officials including Mortug bringing his body; His humble one-time home in Villa Fiorito, the poorest area where he grew up; And La Bombonera Stadium, where he once played as a member of the Boca Juniors Club.
Hundreds of people also gathered in Buenos Aires, where government service is expected, on Thursday in anticipation of a massive footfall at the presidential palace.
At 10pm people praised Mr. Maradona from his balconies in honor of him who wore the Playmaker’s traditional number 10 jersey.
People who turned up on Wednesday were not in a hurry to get home. Hundreds of people spoke and sang songs for Mr Maradona outside the presidential palace, as some began to fill the steps.
“Of course, Maradona was the greatest soccer player ever seen in this country, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. There is something that makes it more than that, ”said sports journalist Alejandro and Wall Lay.
“Diego is Argentina’s greatest storyteller,” he said.
Mr Maradona has always been remembered for helping Argentina win the 1986 World Cup. In the infamous quarter-final against England, he scored one of the most beautiful goals in the history of the game, as well as an illegal goal. (“It was a little bit from Diego’s head and a little bit from God’s hand,”) then he said about that goal.)
The English were furious, but in Argentina – which suffered its 1982 defeat by Britain in a short war on the Caledonian Islands, which Argentina calls Malvinas and claims its own – Mr Maradona was praised.
“A story has been created that the goal was not illegitimate because after the defeat in the 1982 war, God was doing justice,” said Levia Gonalives Malgals, a historian at Brazil’s Federal Fluminense University who studies the intersection of soccer and politics. In South America.
“It was the happiest moment of my life,” said Juan Jose Azkura (67 said), his tears giving way to a smile as he remembered the goal. “I’ll never forget it.”
“The World Cup was doubly salty because no one had faith in the team and in the end what they did was wonderful,” said Veronica Morera, an anthropologist who studied the sport at Argentina’s government agency, the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. Argentina’s victory in the final against West Germany cemented Mr Maradona’s position as the leader who led the Underdog team to victory.
Overcoming obstacles was a constant theme in the life story of Mr. Mara Radona. His rise from poverty was one of the reasons why many Argentines continued to be acquainted with him, even though he became a world celebrity.
“He never stopped being a part of the people,” said Teskusinsky, a 44-year-old guest with a tattoo of Mr. Maradona on his arm. “He was always Fioroto’s child.”
Mr. Maradona wore left-wing politics in his sleeve, and Ms. Megalhis noted that he would publicly criticize FIFA’s leaders on Sofa’s global governing body, “without worrying about reactions.”
“Maradona was a paradoxical character who received a lot of sympathy,” said Professor Rodrigo Daskal, a researcher at the Center for Sports Studies at San Martin National University. “Maradona was always honest and never tried to wear any part of his life.”
Mr. Ma Mara Radona’s praise about his struggles with alcohol and drugs was appreciated by many of his fans, especially those who have experienced addiction. “My old man had a problem with drugs. Who am I to judge Maradona?” Pablo Neret, 42, with tears in his eyes.
Mr. Mara wrote songs in honor of Radona, and some of his phrases were entered into the everyday dictionary of Argentina. One was “they cut off my leg,” he said after kicking the 1994 World Cup for doping.
Victoria Fasa, 43, called Mr Maradona “a rebel who was the most enthusiastic and told what he thought without caring about the outcome.”
He added, “It was 100 percent Argentine.”
Reported by Muella Andreo, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Anatoly Kurnanav, Caracas, Venezuela.
