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Argentine legend Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 after a heart attack. Matías Morla, Maradona’s former agent, confirmed the news to EFE on Wednesday.
A statement from the Argentine Soccer Association said: “The Argentine Soccer Association, through its president Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona. You will always be in our hearts.”
Argentine President Alberto Fernández also confirmed three days of national mourning after the news. Fernández posted on Twitter a photo of himself hugging Maradona with the message: “You took us to the highest place in the world. You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thank you for existing, Diego. We are going to miss the rest of our lives. “
Retired Brazilian soccer player Pelé mourned Maradona’s death in a short statement provided to Reuters by a representative.
“Certainly one day we will kick a ball together in the sky,” he said.
Maradona had recently battled health issues and underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma several weeks ago. He suffered a heart attack at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires this Wednesday, reported Argentine media and acquaintances of the former player.
Born in 1960, Maradona captained Argentina to 1986 World Cup glory and reached the final in 1990. At the height of his club career, at Napoli from 1984 to 1991, he helped the team to win their only two Italian league titles. There were also notable casualties, such as when he was expelled from the 1994 World Cup after being convicted of doping.
Napoli said on Wednesday the death was a “devastating blow” to both the city and the club. “We are in mourning,” said the club’s spokesman, Nicola Lombardo. “We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out. We are in shock.”
“Everyone is waiting for our words. But what words could be possible for a pain as strong as the one we are currently experiencing? Now is the time for tears. Later, it will be the words,” the club posted on its Twitter account .
“It is a very sad day for the world of football,” Serie A president Paolo Dal Pino said in a statement. “Today a legend of our sport has left us.” One that made us dream and excited fans around the world. For the next game of matches, we will remember him with a special initiative. “
UEFA confirmed to ESPN that there will be a minute of silence before all Champions League games on Wednesday and the Europa League playoffs on Thursday.
Since ending his playing career in 1997, the former Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors star has struggled with a number of health problems. He was admitted to the hospital in January 2019 with internal bleeding in his stomach. He also fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he was filmed fainting in an executive box at the Argentina-Nigeria match.
In 2004, he was hospitalized with serious heart and respiratory problems related to a long battle with drug addiction. He underwent two gastric bypass operations to control his weight and received treatment for alcohol abuse.
Maradona is survived by his lifelong partner, Verónica Ojeda, two daughters, two sons and his ex-wife, Claudia Villafane.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.
