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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – On Thursday (November 26), hundreds of people began to line up to see Diego Maradona’s coffin at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires at the beginning of a period of lies in the state, after the death of the Argentine soccer legend. 60 years on Wednesday.
Images from sports channels TyC and ESPN previously showed them lining up to pay their respects to Maradona, who died while recovering from brain surgery.
At a slow pace, people passed in front of the coffin that was covered with the flag of Argentina and its number 10 jersey.
Skirmishes briefly broke out as crowds jostled while queuing to get in and the police had to detain people.
Maradona’s family and closest friends arrived at dawn before the start of the public wake.
A spokesman for the legend said he will be buried later Thursday outside the capital. Maradona will be buried in the Jardín de Paz cemetery, where his parents were also buried, Sebastián Sanchi told AFP.
Tens of thousands of people spent the night at a vigil in the Plaza de Mayo, singing songs in tribute to Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup.
Thousands more, many crying and wearing Argentina’s number 10 jersey, gathered in the streets and stadiums around Buenos Aires in spontaneous celebration of the unbridled life of the player and coach.
The scandalously skilled Maradona, remembered forever for his “Hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, died of a heart attack while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain, said a member of his entourage. AFP.
Relatives were summoned to his home north of Buenos Aires before his death was announced, triggering a torrent of grief across the country and around the world.
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández announced three days of national mourning and the players bowed their heads in a minute of silence before Wednesday’s Champions League matches in Europe.
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.” The 80-year-old Brazilian legend Pelé, constantly compared to Maradona in the debate about the best soccer player, called him a “dear friend” and said he hoped one day “they would play together in heaven.”
Prosecutor John Broyard said Maradona’s death has “only natural features,” although an autopsy was performed. His body will lie in state in the presidential palace during the national duel.
Despite significant coronavirus problems in Argentina, with more than 1.3 million cases and a death toll that exceeds 37,000, fans gathered at iconic places such as the monument to the Obelisk of Buenos Aires and the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Argentinos Juniors, where he began his career.
‘God’s hand’
Maradona, born in Lanús, south of Buenos Aires, on October 30, 1960, also played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli in a career of divine talent marked by wild ups and downs.
Probably in his most famous moment, he jumped up and used his fist to score England’s Peter Shilton in Mexico, memorably describing the goal as “a little with Maradona’s head and a little with God’s hand.”
Minutes later, he fought his way between six English defenders from the midline to score an unforgettable second solo that was later honored as FIFA’s “Goal of the Century”.
The two contrasting goals perfectly encapsulated the mix of brilliant skill and often flamboyant demeanor that ran through his life.
Maradona’s highs were crowned by his performances in that World Cup, when he captured Argentina to glory.
After sacking England, he scored two goals in the semi-final against Belgium, beating four defenders for his second and set up the winning goal in the 86th minute in the final against West Germany.
It was to demonstrate the highlights of Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the 1990 final only for West Germany to get their revenge. In Brazil in 1994, after an infamous and bulky goal celebration against Greece, he failed a drug test and was sent home in disgrace.
Gary Lineker, who was on England’s defeated 1986 national team, called Maradona “possibly the greatest of all time,” adding: “After a blessed but troubled life, I hope he finally finds some comfort in God’s hands. #RipDiego “.
The excesses with drugs and alcohol had taken a toll on Maradona’s health. He was admitted to the hospital three times in the last 20 years for serious health problems due to his addictions.
‘Hi Diego’
Maradona grew up in poverty in Buenos Aires but his extraordinary talent was clear from a very young age in Argentinos Juniors and Boca.
He moved to Barcelona but was singled out by rival defenders for rough treatment and he soon fell in love with the Spanish club.
It was in Naples that Maradona would dazzle an entire city by leading then-old-fashioned Napoli to their only two Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990, befriending a mafia family along the way.
“Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego,” Napoli tweeted, while the club president and the mayor of Naples called for the Stadio San Paolo to be renamed Maradona.
In recent years, Maradona, reduced to a limp from the ravages of his career and lifestyle, had trained in the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Argentina without ever reaching the heights of his playing days.
He 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.
In 2000, FIFA conducted an online survey on the Player of the Century. Maradona obtained 54 percent of the votes and Pelé was second with 18 percent. FIFA declared them joint winners.
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