Tributes are pouring in for Argentina and Napoli legend Diego Maradona, who has died of a heart attack.
Diego Maradona passed away at the age of 60, the Argentina Football Association has announced.
The Argentina World Cup winner and the national team’s former manager had been in hospital in Buenos Aires after surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain earlier this month.
The AFA said on Twitter: ‘The Argentine Football 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.’
Now, the football world is reacting to the passing of a global icon.
Hasta siempre, Diego.
Serás #Eterno en cada corazón del planeta fútbol. pic.twitter.com/jcsGP3GlNI
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 25, 2020
Gary Lineker, who played in the England side that lost to Maradona’s iconic quarter-final performance, tweeted: ‘Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died.
‘By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time.
‘After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully, he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego’
Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 25, 2020
Asif Kapadia, who directed the 2019 film ‘Maradona’, tweeted: ‘Can’t quite believe DM has gone. Hard to process.
‘He always seemed indestructible. I had 10 hours with the man!! I touched his left foot. We did our best to show the world the man, the myth, the fighter he was. The greatest.’
Dr Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician, said the former player had shown signs of improvement after a successful operation three weeks ago.
Dr Luque said Maradona ‘laughed’ and ‘grabbed my hand’ just a day after he had the procedure.
Former clubs Barcelona, Boca Juniors and Napoli have both tweeted, mourning their legend.
Thank you for everything, Diego pic.twitter.com/bJ9l3ixY7A
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2020
Eternas gracias. Eterno Diego. pic.twitter.com/SZVNOJnZ1j
— Boca Jrs. Oficial (desde 🏡) (@BocaJrsOficial) November 25, 2020
Always in our hearts 💙
Ciao, Diego pic.twitter.com/I2gTWqdtdB
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 25, 2020
Other figures to have tweeted their respects to Diego Maradona include Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho.
Que notícia triste. Eu perdi um grande amigo e o mundo perdeu uma lenda. Ainda há muito a ser dito, mas por agora, que Deus dê força para os familiares. Um dia, eu espero que possamos jogar bola juntos no céu. pic.twitter.com/6Li76HTikA
— Pelé (@Pele) November 25, 2020
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You have always given me emotions and smiles. Nothing will undo what you have done for all those who love football. Rest In Peace eternal legend.❤️🙏🏻 #Maradonahttps://t.co/wp3FoUVYZf pic.twitter.com/qvQv12qEcH
— Andriy Shevchenko (@jksheva7) November 25, 2020
The world of sport has lost one of the greatest. Rest in peace, Diego Maradona ⚽🇦🇷💙🙏🏾 #shocked #legend pic.twitter.com/LGg8hgmT6O
— Antonio Rüdiger (@ToniRuediger) November 25, 2020
Terrible to hear about the loss of a true football legend. 😞
But legends NEVER die. 🙏🏼
God give you peace.
Ciao Diego #Maradona. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/N3Eb83EHgn— Franck Ribéry (@FranckRibery) November 25, 2020
Such sad news. A true legend of the sport. RIP Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/G0Mz4raHTj
— Dele (@dele_official) November 25, 2020
A highlight of my career being able to have met Maradona. A true great and another legend gone too soon. 🥲💔#Maradona #rip pic.twitter.com/Dvs8Hqgfze
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) November 25, 2020
One of the greatest players of all time.
Rest in peace, Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/SUIY3lGBnE
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) November 25, 2020
I’ll never forget watching Diego Maradona as an 8 yr old at the World Cup in Mexico. Never seen anything like it on that stage since. Sad news #Maradona
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 25, 2020
By far the best I ever saw growing up, and arguably the greatest ever #RipDiego #Maradona #10 pic.twitter.com/OM9RhAFFvU
— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) November 25, 2020
