“Your charm in the stadium will not be forgotten” … Athletes and world stars express their regret for the departure of Maradona

Seen often Maradona In that One of the best players in the history of football, To accept The announcement of his death on Wednesday The stars of art and sports followed suit, including many who competed for the title of “best in history” at the 1986 World Cup, such as Brazilians Pelé and Ronaldo, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and the German Franz Beckenbauer.

للمزيد – Diego Maradona dies: Argentina takes one last look at its “spoiled son” before being buried on Thursday

The following are the most prominent comments on the death of the legend Maradona.

Ancient stars

Brazilian Pelé (80 years old), 3 times world champion: “What sad news. I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. One day, I hope we can play soccer together in heaven.”

Michel Platini, former president of the European Union, French star of the 80s: “Our past is gone … I am very sad. I feel nostalgic for a beautiful time … Cruyff, Di Stefano and Puskas, many of the great players who They marked my youth. Diego printed my life. “

The German Franz Beckenbauer, nicknamed “Kaiser” and world champion in 1974 as a player and in 1990 as a coach: “It is very unfortunate and sad. He was such a talented player … I had never seen anything like him, he was a genius of his time, the best footballer of the seventies and eighties.

Former Brazilian striker Ronaldo: “I lost a wonderful friend, his talent inspired me since I was a child. I am shocked by his departure, but grateful to meet in this life. Pepe (the boy) is your eternal legacy. Your charm in him field will not be forgotten. “

England’s top scorer Gary Lineker: “I never thought in my life that anyone could come close to his level. Messi is close to him, Argentine, short and wonderful on his left foot, but Diego was excellent. After a blessed life but troublesome, I hope I finally find some comfort in my hands Allah. “

Romanian Georgi Hagee, former playmaker, nicknamed “Maradona of the Carpathians”: “A deep sadness filled my soul the moment I heard the terrible news.”

Rio Ferdinand from England, former international defender: “My first hero in football. Few people have influenced generations like him. The greatest, the best, the artist, the human … the charisma, the leader … the winner!”

Iranian Ali Daei, the best international scorer in history (109 goals): “Maradona was a miracle in the stadiums. Rest in peace.”

Iranian Ali Karimi, former player, nicknamed: “Maradona Asia”: “No one will be bigger than you.”

Former Brazilian star Ronaldinho: “My feelings are with the family and all the fans of this genius. My friend, my role model, the number 10, thank you for every moment with you, be it on the field or at a simple dinner.”

The Cameroonian Samuel Ito: “You are a god, and the gods do not die.”

Argentina

Lionel Messi is the best player in the world six times: “He left us, but he will not go, because Diego is eternal … I will keep all the beautiful memories I lived with him.”

Argentine President Alberto Fernandes: “You 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.”

The Boca Juniors club, who defended their colors twice: “Thank you for always. Diego is eternal.”

Jimnasia e Esgrima La Plata, who trained him before his death: “Goodbye Diego, with great sadness and pain we cry to Diego Armando Maradona, our beloved coach.”

Forward Sergio Agüero, ex-husband of Maradona’s daughter Janina: “We will never forget you. You will always be with us. Thank you Diego.”

Jorge Valdano, a teammate from 1986: “When I remember our common moments, I laugh … (stop crying)”.

Diego Simeone, the Atlético de Madrid coach who played alongside him: “When they tell you that Diego has left, you say it’s not possible, but I have no doubt that he will live in every football stadium in the world. It was the best”.

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala: “Thanks for everything, Diego, rest in peace.”

Gabriela Sabatini, former Argentine tennis star: “Absolute sadness. For me it will be eternal. I adore you forever, my friend. Rest in peace.”

Juan Martín del Potro, Argentine tennis player: “I have the impression that you return to where you belong. In heaven. For me you will never die. Rest in peace.”

Former basketball star Manu Ginobili: “I can’t help the pain in my heart and some tears when I see or read about Diego. He was very generous with me when we met.”

Napoli Club

Club Napoli, which changed its colors to black and white on social networks: “Everyone is waiting for our words. But what words express our pain? Now is the time for tears, then comes the time to speak.”

“The legend never dies. Goodbye Diego.”

The mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistres, where Maradona spent his most wonderful football days, “Let’s call the stadium San Paolo Diego Maradona.”

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis: “It would be a good idea to call the San Paolo-Maradona stadium.”

Lorenzo Insigne, Naples captain: “You gave everything to our people, you defended this land, they loved it. You gave us smiles, titles, love. I grew up with my family’s stories about your achievements, I watched and reviewed your countless games. You are the one best player ever … You had a chance. ” Find you, talk to you, get to know you. I admit my feet were shaking. You said beautiful words about me, reassuring words that I will not forget and keep. “

Neapolitan striker Dries Mertens: “I was the first person I thought of when I signed with Napoli. Wearing the blue jersey would mean more now. Napoli lost part of their soul today.”

They are trained

Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola: “There was a sign in Argentina that said: ‘It doesn’t matter what you did in your life, but what you did with the lives of others.’ For our generation, the 1986 World Cup helped to improve sport “.

Former Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti and now Everton, who faced Diego when he was a player at Milan: “You have always been a genius … You are eternal, my friend.”

German coach Jürgen Klopp, champion of England: “I am 53 years old and I feel that it was part of my whole life. When I was a child I saw it for the first time and I was sixteen or seventeen years old. In any video, dance the ball, from that moment he became my favorite player. “

French coach Zinedine Zidane: “The 1986 World Cup is still etched in my mind.”

Italian Andrea Pirlo, former Juventus player and coach: “The god of football is gone. Thank you Diego.”

Current athletes

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world five times: “Today I say goodbye to a friend, and the world says goodbye to an immortal genius. One of the greatest in history. He is an incomparable magician.”

Young French striker Kylian Mbappé: “You will stay in football history forever. Thank you for all the happiness I have given the world.”

Rafael Nadal, holder of 20 great tennis tournaments: “Today there is a gap in the world of sports and football. One of the great athletes that remains.”

Administrators

FIFA President, FIFA Switzerland: “Our hearts stopped beating for a moment. Our silence, our tears, our pain is the only thing we feel inside of us at this moment.”

The president of the Slovenian European Football Association, Alexander Ceferin: “One of the greatest symbols of world football. He was glorified as an excellent player with genius and charisma.”

Thomas Bach, President of the German International Olympic Committee: “Bye, great. You were a troubled soul, but you delighted the whole world with your soccer skills. Rest in peace.”

Joseph Blatter, former president of the Swiss International Football Federation, said: “The World Cup was marked in Mexico by the victory of Argentina, thanks to the ‘hand of God’ to which it will return.”

Arab world

Emirati Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council: “We are proud that he has shared his talents with us here in the United Arab Emirates. Our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Fujairah United Arab Emirates, who coached him in 2017: “The beautiful days were unforgettable memories that history will remember that better than playing football was here in Fujairah. Goodbye legend.”

UAE club Al Wasl, who coached him in 2011: “Bye, legend.”

Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the AFC: “In the Middle East, Maradona worked on training Al Wasl and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, and everyone in Asia and the world will remember the wonderful performances he did in field”.

Qatari Hassan Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy that organizes the World Cup 2022: “The hero of my childhood. The greatest of all time and the man who changed football forever.”

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, President of the West Asian Football Federation: “You are a legend on and off the field, and your skills were excellent. The most important thing you had was a pure heart on and off the field. “.

Saudi Mohammed Al-Shalhoub, nicknamed “Baby Maradona”: “My start at the club was with a Maradona jersey in 93, and when I retired he passed away. It was as if our stories were linked to each other in sports and sports. life. He died and died with football. “

Artists and public figures

A Vatican spokesman said Pope Francis lovingly remembers his interviews with Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona and mentions him in his prayers. The official Vatican news site posted the news of the soccer legend’s death on its home page, titled “The Poet of Soccer.”

Serbian director Amir Kusturica, a two-time Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, who has produced a documentary on Maradona: “There will be more fast players and better scorers, but there will be no other player that we all love so much.”

Colombian singer Maluma: “It was the best of football history”

British Queen Brian May: “We enjoyed spending time with him when we had a party in Buenos Aires in 1981, and he came out on stage with us to the cheers of the noisy crowd … Rest in peace Diego Maradona.”

France 24 / AFP / Reuters