In this June 10, 1987 file photo, former Brazilian soccer player Pele, center, clasps hands with Italian captain Alessandro Altobelli, left, and Argentine captain Diego Maradona, after he is awarded the FIFA honor medal before the start of the final match between Argentina and Italy in Zurich, Switzerland. (AP Photo)World soccer great Diego Maradona, died on Wednesday less than a month after his 60th birthday.
Maradona died after suffering a heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, sources close to him confirmed.
Rising to stardom from a grimy Buenos Aires slum to lead Argentina to World Cup victory, Maradona was a rags-to-riches story in his soccer-mad homeland and gained the iconic status of fellow Argentines Che Guevara and Evita Peron.
Football legend paces away: Classic Maradona moments
One of the most gifted soccer players in history, Maradona’s pinnacle of glory came when he captained Argentina to win the World Cup in 1986 before plunging to misery when he was kicked out the 1994 World Cup for doping.
But he reinvented himself in a stunning comeback in 2008 as coach of the Argentina team, persuading managers that with sheer charisma he could inspire the team to victory, despite a lack of coaching experience.
Brazilian soccer star Pelé mourned the death of Argentine great Diego Maradona on Wednesday, following confirmation he had died of a heart attack earlier in the day.
“Certainly, one day we’ll kick a ball together in the sky above,” he said in a brief statement provided to Reuters by a representative.
Here are some of the reactions and tributes-
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
Diego #Maradona, the legend has left us. He was a magician who showed us why football is called “The beautiful game”.
My condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Gracias Argentina.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 25, 2020
RIP Diego, a true footballing icon. #Maradona pic.twitter.com/Lcuz01D0eA
— Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) November 25, 2020
Remember Rip Maradona dancing with a Nigerian woman at the world cup #Maradona pic.twitter.com/d6VW8itHjW
— Mentality Monsters (@parkthebus8989) November 25, 2020
Watching this on repeat. What a legend. RIP #Maradona pic.twitter.com/JJT96tfqrL
— Ian McCourt (@ianmccourt) November 25, 2020
My hero no more ..my mad genius rest in peace ..I watched football for you.. pic.twitter.com/JhqFffD2vr
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) November 25, 2020
Really sad to hear of the passing away of the legendary Maradona. He truly lived life king size & by his rules and set benchmarks on the field and off it too. RIP my friend. You will be missed
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 25, 2020
Not many in Sport can say they inspired a generation … But the greatest inspire many generations … That’s exactly what #DiegoMaradona did … THE GREATEST … #RIPDiego
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 25, 2020
Big big loss! Our childhood star who gave us so many memories to cherish & celebrate. Saddened to hear about the demise of The legend #diegomaradona. You will live on in hearts & memories. pic.twitter.com/hyHbdSKqqi
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 25, 2020
Very sad news!!!! Grew up watching football because of this genius. RIP Maradona 🙏🏻 https://t.co/rof6g3mcnb
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) 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
No words needed. #Maradona pic.twitter.com/VK6ow0WUV9
— Daniel Mack (@danielmack) November 25, 2020
Loved him as a kid 😢
RIP #MaradonaJune 26, 2018 – Argentina vs. Nigeria – Saint Petersburg, Russia
— Andom Ghebreghiorgis (@AndomForNY) November 25, 2020
Il mondo intero piange la scomparsa di #Maradona, che con il suo talento ineguagliabile ha scritto pagine indimenticabili della storia del calcio. Addio eterno campione. pic.twitter.com/nhNo1ySjdp
— Giuseppe Conte (@GiuseppeConteIT) November 25, 2020
So sad to hear about legendary Diego Maradona passing away. Always been a huge inspiration for all sportsmen. His legacy will always stay. #Maradona #Legend pic.twitter.com/t6ewLiVJP9
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 25, 2020
Siento que volvés al lugar que te pertenece, EL CIELO. Para mí nunca vas a morir. Descansá en Paz.#GraciasDiego https://t.co/CenIdC4Tbe
— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) November 25, 2020
Hoy el mundo del deporte en general y el fútbol en particular tiene un vacío. Se nos fue #Maradona uno de los deportistas mas grandes de la historia. Queda lo que hizo en el fútbol. Mi mas sincero y sentido pésame a su familia, al mundo del fútbol y a toda la Argentina 🇦🇷
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) November 25, 2020
Football and the world of sports has lost one of its greatest players today.
Rest in Peace Diego Maradona!
You shall be missed. pic.twitter.com/QxhuROZ5a5— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 25, 2020
Thank you for everything, Diego pic.twitter.com/bJ9l3ixY7A
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2020
“In our collective imagination Diego Maradona represents a certain glorious past, he’s a symbol of what we might have been,” popular culture professor at Buenos Aires University and Maradona expert Pablo Alabarces has said.
“He will always be forgiven,” said Maradona fan Marcelo Pose, a Buenos Aires attorney.
(Reuters inputs)