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Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup, underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in early November, before leaving today due to a heart attack, his spokesman Sebastián Sanchi told “AFP”.
The news was resounding in the world in general and in Argentina in particular, as the President of the Republic, Alberto Fernandes, declared a national mourning for a period of three days.
“You have raised us to the top of the world. You made us very happy. You were the greatest of all. Thank you for being there, Diego. We will miss you in life,” Fernandes said on Twitter in a post attached to a photo hugging Maradona .
Minutes before the news that shook the whole world was announced, the Argentine press reported on the deterioration in the health of the former Italian Napoli player, noting that he was receiving medical treatment at his home north of the capital.
“There are four ambulances in front of his place of residence. They have invited his family to come. It is dangerous,” reported TYC sports channel.
The Argentine Football Association lamented its former captain saying: “The Argentine Football Association, through its president Claudio Tapia, expresses its deep sadness for the death of our developer, Diego Aramando Maradona. It will remain in our hearts forever.”
“I hope we can play together in heaven”
And Pele (80 years old) continues: “There is much to say, but now I ask God to give strength to the members of his family. I hope that one day we can play soccer together in heaven.”
He was also mourned by his compatriot Lionel Messi, the Spanish and Portuguese from Barcelona Cristiano Ronaldo, who are also among the great players of the tournament, although so far they have not been able to match Pelé and Maradona in a basic criterion that is to lift world gold.
Messi, the best player in the world six times, said in a post on “Instagram”: “It is a sad day for all Argentines and for football. He has gone, but he will not go, because Diego is eternal.”
And the Barcelona star added: “I will keep all the beautiful memories I lived with him and send my deepest condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.”
Ronaldo, the five times best player in the world, said on Twitter, in a post attached to a photo that brings him up with Maradona: “Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an immortal genius. One of the most great in history. He is an incomparable magician. “
He added: “He leaves early, but leaves an unlimited legacy and a void that cannot be filled. Rest in peace. We will never forget you.”
On the other hand, former French star Michel Platini said on RTL radio: “Our past is gone.”
“I am very sad. I feel nostalgic for a beautiful time … Cruyff, Di Stefano and Puskas, many great players who marked my youth, Diego imprinted my life,” said the former Juventus player, who faced Maradona in the years 80 in the Italian league.
The European Union “Wifa” announced to the match minutes after the death of “Deuce” that it will honor the player with a minute of silence before the matches of the Champions League tonight and the European League “Europa League” on Thursday.
‘The goal of the century’
In the final, he passed the assist to the winning goal over West Germany in the 86th minute (3-2). He also scored two goals in the semi-final against Belgium (2-0), where he dodged four defenders for the second goal.
But the match that engraved on the minds of the world and raised his international career to the highest levels was the one he played in the quarter-finals against England (2-1) when he scored two goals that football fans will remember forever, but for two different reasons.
In the 51st minute, when England goalkeeper Peter Shilton came to collect the ball from a cross, Maradona, the shortest, jumped an astonishing 17 centimeters and hit the ball into the goal.
The Argentine pronounced the famous phrase after the game when he admitted that he scored the goal, “a little with Maradona’s head and a little with God.”
He scored the second goal four minutes later when he caught the ball from behind the midfield line and passed six England players, including Shelton, before landing at the net, scoring the goal that FIFA called the “Goal of the Century” .
“He is the best player of my generation, by a wide margin of the rest, and arguably the greatest in history. After a happy but turbulent life, I hope he finally finds rest in the arms of God.” English sniper Gary Lineker, who was in that match, wrote on Twitter.
Maradona played for his country’s Boca Juniors before moving to Barcelona and Naples (1984-1991), who made history for him and led him to his only Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990.
The southern club mourned him on Twitter: “Forever … to meet Diego.”
In 2000, FIFA conducted an online survey on the best player of the time, and Maradona surpassed Pelé, but the international body declared both winners.
He married his girlfriend Claudia Villavan in 1984 and they have two daughters, Dalma and Ganinia, before divorcing in 2004. He has a son named Diego Junior. He was born in Naples in 1986, and only recognized his paternity in 2004.
The life of the Argentine star was marked by many health problems, some of which almost claimed his life.
In 2000, Maradona suffered a heart attack after a drug overdose in the coastal city of Punta del Este. Then he was subjected to a long treatment in Cuba.
In 2004, when he weighed more than 100 kilograms, he had another heart attack in Buenos Aires, but he survived. He then underwent stomach surgery that allowed him to lose 50 kg of weight.
In 2007, his heavy drinking caused him to be hospitalized.
