DIEGO MARADONA HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 60.
With reports circulating this evening that Diego Armando Maradona has died at 60, the footballing world has begun to pay tribute to one of the game's most notable icons.
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
Legendary 💔 pic.twitter.com/BRd5oAXV9S
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) November 25, 2020
Diego playing for us 1986. What a night! RIP Dieguito. pic.twitter.com/28qP6Z4At3
— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) November 25, 2020
Thank dear Dieguito for your friendship, for your footbal, sublime, without comparison. Simply, the best football player in the history of football. So many enjoyable moments together. Impossible to say which one was the best. RIP my dear friend. https://t.co/1xshiEZQVh
— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) November 25, 2020
Diego Maradona . R.I.P. #Respect.
— Paul McGrath (@Paulmcgrath5) November 25, 2020
Privileged to have met him. Very sad news. RIP Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/x2LcIeQPqr
— Harry Kane (@HKane) November 25, 2020
Quite simply - a player like no other.
Rest In Peace Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/J5QM6Qm7e5— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) November 25, 2020
RIP Maradona!! Legend 💙 https://t.co/qiyecCShhV
— Megan Campbell (@megcam10) November 25, 2020
I fell in love with #diegomaradona and football During Mexico 86. He is the GOAT in my eyes & this picture sums up how teams tried to stop him. #RIPDiegoMaradona 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/1SMruOgUlC
— Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) November 25, 2020
Probably the best to ever play the game and an absolute gentleman. Rest in peace, Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/Pzr5zMZda2
— Kasper Schmeichel (@kschmeichel1) November 25, 2020
Diego Maradona dead at 60 ! Such a shame.. the greatest in my humble opinion 🙏🏻
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) November 25, 2020
Diego Maradona had recently underwent surgery when being admitted to hostpital after complaining that he felt unwell.
Shortly after his 60th birthday, the iconic Argentine footballer, who was so instrumental in their winning of the 1986 World Cup, had to have a subdural haematoma on his brain removed.
Although Maradona was understood to be recovering from the fairly routine surgery, reports today revealed that he suffered a cardiac arrest and has passed away.
To mark his passing, a selection of the teams he represented as a player have also taken the time to share in the collective sorrow.
Eternas gracias. Eterno Diego. pic.twitter.com/SZVNOJnZ1j
— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) November 25, 2020
Hasta siempre, Diego.
Serás #Eterno en cada corazón del planeta fútbol. pic.twitter.com/jcsGP3GlNI— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 25, 2020
Always in our hearts 💙
Ciao, Diego pic.twitter.com/I2gTWqdtdB— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 25, 2020
Thank you for everything, Diego pic.twitter.com/bJ9l3ixY7A
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2020
Born in the Villa Fiorito area on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Diego Maradona made his professional football debut while still aged 15 with Argentinos Juniors in 1976. A prodigious talent from the off, he scored 115 goals in 167 appearances for Juniors before a move to Boca Juniors in 1981.
He would spend just over a year at the Bombanera, but it was one that cemented his status as one of the greatest talents the world had ever seen. Despite a disappointing showing at his first World Cup in 1982, that ended with his sending off against Brazil, he made a record-breaking move to Barcelona.
But despite a bright start, Maradona failed to properly settle in Spain. A combination of illness, a broken ankle courtesy of Andoni Goikoetxea and off-field problems led to him fleeing for Napoli in the summer of 1984.
Viewed as a surprising move at the time, it would prove a masterstroke.
Maradona settled into Naples like a native, and helped raise an ordinary Serie A side to the status of champions in the 1986-87 season. That, of course, followed his display at the Mexico World Cup.
Maradona captained Argentina to their second world title, scoring incredible and infamous goals along the way against England and Belgium. He was star of the show and creator supreme in the final, when they beat West Germany 3-2 in the baking sun of the Azteca.
Make sure to keep an eye on OTBSports.com across the evening as we talk with a range of figures from the world of football about Diego Maradona and his influence on the game
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