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LONDON: The great Brazilian Pelé directed global tributes to Diego Maradona, whose death was announced on Wednesday (November 25), saying that one day they would “play soccer together in heaven.”
Renowned for inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, Maradona was most loved at the club level for his spells with Boca Juniors in his homeland and Napoli in Italy, where he won the only two Serie A titles.
Maradona is remembered for his mastery of the ball, but he was also famous for his frequent lack of control on and off the field.
He struggled with addiction, in particular cocaine, and with his weight, in contrast to the clearer image of three-time World Cup winner Pelé.
“Sad news today. I have lost a dear friend and the world has lost a legend,” wrote Pelé on Instagram, alongside a photo of Maradona lifting the World Cup trophy in 1986.
“There is much more to say, but for now may God give strength to his family. One day, I hope, we will play soccer together in heaven.”
The pinnacle of Maradona’s playing career came in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico City, where his two iconic goals, reflecting his bombast, condemned England to a 2-1 defeat. .
In the first, he punched the net for a goal he called “Hand of God”, while in the second he showed incredible skill dancing around the England team from inside his field.
“By far the best player of my generation and possibly the greatest of all time,” said Gary Lineker, who scored England’s goal in that game.
“After a blessed but troubled life, I hope I finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego.”
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Maradona went on to have a much less successful coaching career, most notably leading Argentina in the 2010 World Cup, where a team containing Lionel Messi emerged in the quarterfinals in a crushing 4-0 loss to Germany.
TRIBUTE TO MESSI
Messi has enjoyed greater collective and individual accolades at the club level for Barcelona than Maradona, but he has not been able to match his success with the national team.
“It is a very sad day for all Argentines and for football,” Messi said on social media along with photos of him with Maradona. “It leaves us but it does not go because it is eternal.
“I keep many of the good times we shared and I want to send my condolences to all his family and friends.”
T-shirts and flags bearing Maradona’s name and face still adorn Napoli’s San Paolo stadium on match days in memory of the role he played in the southern Italian club’s most successful era.
“The world is waiting for our words, but there are no words to describe the pain we are going through. Now is the time to cry,” Napoli said on Twitter.
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Maradona also played for Barcelona and Seville in Spain and Argentinos Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.
“Thank you for everything Diego. FC Barcelona expresses its deepest condolences on the death of Diego Armando Maradona, a player of our club (1982-84) and an icon of world football,” Barcelona said in a statement.
Sevilla said: “A hero for an entire country and for football itself. One of the best players that has graced the game and we were lucky to enjoy it at Sevilla FC. Diego Armando Maradona, forever and ever. Rest in peace. “.
A minute’s silence will be observed before all Champions League matches on Wednesday.
Maradona proved to be an inspiration even to the current generation of soccer stars who weren’t old enough to watch him play live.
“Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius,” tweeted five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
“One of the greatest of all time. An incomparable wizard. He leaves too soon, but he leaves behind a limitless legacy and a void that will never be filled.
“Rest in peace as well. You will never be forgotten.”
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“Rest in Peace, soccer legend,” Brazilian forward Neymar tweeted, with a black and white photo of a younger Maradona with Neymar as a child.
Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora, a native of Naples, also paid tribute to Maradona.
“Maradona’s death is terrible news. He was more than a champion, he was a soccer genius, an absolute champion,” Spadafora said.
“In an unrepeatable season, he represented the dreams and hopes of the people of my city. Naples is crying tonight.”
The great European footballer Michel Platini said: “A bit of our past is gone.
“I’m very sad. I’m nostalgic for what was a wonderful time,” Platini told French radio station RTL. “Diego left a mark on my life.”
