Soccer Icon Diego Maradona Dies Aged 60

One of the greatest soccer players to have played the game, Diego Maradona, has died at the age of 60. Maradona had a dominant career in South America, Europe and internationally and is widely regarded as one of the most talented soccer players to ever live.

“The Argentine Football Association, through its President Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona,” the Argentine Football Association tweeted in a statement confirming Maradona’s death.

“You will always be in our hearts.”

Despite a career bursting at the seams with goals, controversy and magic moments, Maradona is perhaps best known for a five-minute spell in the second half of a World Cup quarter-final against England in which he scored two of the most talked about goals in soccer history. The goals, very different in nature, are reflective of the major storylines in Maradona’s life and career: the first was illegal and highly controversial, while the second demonstrated beautifully the never-before-seen technical ability Maradona possessed.

The first goal, dubbed the ‘Hand of God’ because of Maradona’s post-match summation of the incident, is one of the most controversial goals in soccer history. A cross was played into Maradona, who met it with an outstretched hand to punch the ball into the back of the net. Normally such a goal would be immediately ruled out for handball but the referee never saw it and the Argentinians celebrated as normal.

Just four minutes later Maradona made sure that he would make the headlines for his footballing genius, as well as the almost unbelievable Hand of God incident. In what is often regarded as the greatest individual goal ever, Maradona ran 60 yards in ten seconds, beating five English players in the process before taking it around the goalkeeper and finishing coolly. In 2002, the goal was voted ‘Goal of the Century’ by FIFA.

Maradona’s battles with addiction and his subsequent health issues have been well documented throughout his life, with the Argentine hero being banned from football for 15 months after testing positive for cocaine during the 1990 World Cup. After falling ill during a match he was coaching at the end of October, Maradona underwent brain surgery for a subdural hematoma.

“A very sad day for all Argentinians and for football. He leaves us, but he is not gone because Diego is eternal. I stay with all the beautiful moments I lived with him and I wanted to send my condolences to his family and friends,” Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

“Sad news today. I have lost a dear friend, and the world has lost a legend. There is much more to say, but for now may God give his family strength. One day, I hope, we will play soccer together in the sky,” fellow footballing icon Pele posted on social media.

“It was a banner in Argentina I think, 1 year ago I read it, that it said ‘no matter what you have done with your life Diego, it matters what you have done for our lives,” Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said, giving his reaction to the news.

“I think it expresses perfectly what this guy gave us, the amount of joy and the pleasure and his commitment for the world football, he made world football better.”

Speaking to BT Sport before the club’s Champions League tie with Atalanta, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s like, I’m 53 years old and it feels like my entire life, he was part of it. When I was very, very young – maybe eight or nine, 10 years old – I saw him for the first time and he was 16 or 17.

“In any video, juggling the ball, from that moment on he was the player for me.

“It’s like, from an international point of view there’s Pele, Maradona, Messi, if you want – one Brazilian and two Argentinians. I saw his documentary not too long ago; Diego was a sensational guy, Maradona had some struggles, let me say it like this. I will miss both.”

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Diego Maradona, one of world football’s greatest and most iconic figures. I was in touch recently to wish him well, and this news comes as a considerable shock to me,” UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a tribute to the late Maradona.

“Diego Maradona achieved greatness as a wonderful player with a genius and charisma of his own. He was a hero in his native Argentina, with whom he enjoyed World Cup glory, and became an eternal idol for the supporters of Napoli, who will never forget the successes he brought to the club during his memorable spell in Italy.

“He will go down in history as someone who set football alight and thrilled fans young and old with his brilliance and skill. I have instructed UEFA to hold a minute’s silence in memory of Diego at this week’s matches.”