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Diego Maradona passes away at 60

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The news is all over media. My fav player of all time :(

==

Football legend Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 60.

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home.

He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the quarter-finals.

In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts."

Maradona played for Barcelona and Napoli during his club career, winning two Serie A titles with the Italian side.

He scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina, representing them in four World Cups.

Maradona led his country to the 1990 final in Italy, where they were beaten by West Germany, before captaining them again in the United States in 1994, but was sent home after failing a drugs test for ephedrine.

During the second half of his career, Maradona struggled with cocaine addiction and was banned for 15 months after testing positive for the drug in 1991.

He retired from professional football in 1997, on his 37th birthday, during his second stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors.

Having briefly managed two sides in Argentina during his playing career, Maradona was appointed head coach of the national team in 2008 and left after the 2010 World Cup, where his side were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals.

He subsequently managed teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico and was in charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina's top flight at the time of his death.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54810392
 
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RIP :(

My favourite player of all time.

For another thread but imo GOAT. Thanks Diego for the great childhood memories and for inspiring me to play football.
 
The only reason started watching Football was because of him.
Been following Argentina Football team since 1990 World Cup.
Great Player who could have been more greater if he did not have off field problems.
 
RIP to a legend whose greatness cannot be put into words.

To say that he was one of the greatest of all time and probably the greatest at the international level would be an understatement.

Few athletes in history have had a bigger impact on their respective sports that he had on football.

An incredible story of one of football’s greatest icons ends today.

I saw him in person in Dubai 4 years ago and you could immediately tell how bad his health was.

Maradona was a troubled man who carried on only for football. You have to wonder what he would have done and how long he would have survived with football.

2020 is a gift that keeps on giving.
 
The best player I ever saw and probably the greatest ever footballer.

A legend. A man who could take teams to trophies on his own.

RIP Legend.
 
RIP, a larger than life icon who leaves an unforgettable legacy.
 
I had the pleasure of watching him play only in 94 world cup when he scored that Goal against Greece. Though he managed to play only 2 games in that tournament but that goal will always be in my fond memory. But I have seen his clips from 86 world cup and he had god gifted skills.

RIP legend.
 
He was my childhood hero. First sportsman I knew as a kid.

RIP legend.

By the way, lot of celebrities died in 2020.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RipDiego?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RipDiego</a></p>— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1331637479640870917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
It’s hardly a surprise, but it’s incredibly sad.

He was the greatest footballer I ever saw, and most of us in England loved and admired him in spite of ‘86.

This was his reception when he visited Manchester United 11 years ago:

F115D093-993D-40C9-BD14-C1311F753B48.jpeg7133329A-0D9C-4E83-A60B-1460AE750C68.jpg

Of course in Argentina and Naples his social activism cemented him in the love of the people: before Hugo Chavez turned to rigging elections posthumously he was part of an alliance with Maradona and Evo Morales!

The reception I saw him receive at Johannesburg in 2010 before Argentina’s opening game at the World Cup was astonishing. The Argentinians liked Messi but they loved Maradona - there was no comparison and Messi couldn’t help but see it.

Four years ago I was at MetLife for the Copa America Final, between Argentina and Chile. And again, a muted pre-match started to turn electric when the crowd started to sing Rodrigo’s Mano de Dios.

What a sad day it is today. Pele is not in great shape either.
 
RIP legend.

Remember staying awake well past midnight during WC '90, played in Italy.

Maradona was so heart broken after losing the WC final to Germany after a questionable penalty being awarded to Germany.
 
There’s brilliant footage on YouTube of him as coach in South Africa in 2010.

Apart from Diego Forlan, nobody could score free kicks with the Jabulani ball. Messi’s attempts were ballooning high over the bar, every time.

Maradona is 50, and he sets up in training outside the box. Every single free kick he takes arrows into the corner of the net.

At 50 he could do things with a ball that Messi at almost 23 just couldn’t do.
 
The greatest player of his generation and easily one of the greatest ever to have played the beautiful game.

Nobody has ever dominated an entire World Cup campaign the way The Great Maradona did in 1986.

Messi remains the greatest Argentine ever, but Maradona will always remain the greatest to ever play for Argentina.

I was privileged enough to witness his genius at Napoli in the late 80s, and the only regret I feel at the moment is the regret of not watching him single handedly carrying Argentina to their World Cup triumph. That iconic game against England, where he scored the greatest goal of all time at the biggest stage of world football will remain etched in our memories.

His faced many hurdles in his personal life, and his drug addiction had put him in a terrible shape recently. I watched him support his beloved Argentina during the 2018 WC, and you could see that he was struggling with his health issues.

You will remain eternal, Diego. The great game of football will never see another Diego Armando Maradona.

Rest in eternal peace.
 
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“A very sad day for all Argentines and football. He leaves us but doesn’t leave, because Diego is eternal. I seize all the good moments lived with him, and wanted to take advantage to send my condolences to all his family & friends. RIP.”
 
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People miss the human connection with Messi.

Messi’s best friend in football is Sergio Aguero: Argentina players still share rooms at major tournaments, and they have shared a room since Under-20 days. It’s why Messi is coming to City next summer.

And Aguero was married to Maradona’s daughter.

So Maradona was for a long time the father-in-law of Messi’s best friend.

(Yes, I know he’s close to Suarez too, but that friendship came much later).
 
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Why I feel he is the greatest is that he won Championships and World Cups in teams that were nowhere near the best team in the league or the tournament. He lifted the Argentinian teams to glory and then performed a miracle at Napoli in another team that wasn't the best in Serie A.
 
#BREAKING Pele mourns Maradona, saying, "I hope we'll play soccer together in the sky"
 
Saj said:
Why I feel he is the greatest is that he won Championships and World Cups in teams that were nowhere near the best team in the league or the tournament. He lifted the Argentinian teams to glory and then performed a miracle at Napoli in another team that wasn't the best in Serie A.
Click to expand...
Very good point.

In Serie A, a big split emerged: AC Milan had the three great Dutch masters while Inter had Matthaus and Brehme and Voller. Careca was a perfect Number 9 for Diego to service.

Argentina were moderate in 1990 but in ‘86 were better than people remember: they had Real Madrid’s Valdano up front and Passarella was only on the bench.

Their best team was actually ‘94: Real Madrid’s Redondo anchoring the midfield and Batistuta and Caniggia up front. Their performance in the first half against a powerful Nigerian team was the best I’ve ever seen at international level.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you for everything, Diego <a href="https://t.co/bJ9l3ixY7A">pic.twitter.com/bJ9l3ixY7A</a></p>— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1331643760703397888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Always in our hearts 💙<br><br>Ciao, Diego <a href="https://t.co/I2gTWqdtdB">pic.twitter.com/I2gTWqdtdB</a></p>— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) <a href="https://twitter.com/en_sscnapoli/status/1331643069347860486ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">La Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, a través de su Presidente Claudio Tapia, manifiesta su más profundo dolor por el fallecimiento de nuestra leyenda, Diego Armando Maradona. <br><br>Siempre estarás en nuestros corazones 💙 <a href="https://t.co/xh6DdfCFed">pic.twitter.com/xh6DdfCFed</a></p>— AFA (@afa) <a href="https://twitter.com/afa/status/1331638153149558786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
He was also a great supporter of justice. A great friend of the Palestinians, Cubans, South Americans who faced tryanny.
 
In my opinion Diego Maradona is the greatest footballer in my lifetime.

Was he better than Pele ? Probably not but I never saw Pele play live and it was a different era where Pele had so many amazing players in his side where as Maradona had an average Argentina side who almost single handily won his country the World Cup in 1986, and was close in 1990 as well.

He of course did have controversies as well on and off the pitch but overall he is a sports legend, he inspired so many footballers.
 
Junaids said:
Very good point.

In Serie A, a big split emerged: AC Milan had the three great Dutch masters while Inter had Matthaus and Brehme and Voller. Careca was a perfect Number 9 for Diego to service.

Argentina were moderate in 1990 but in ‘86 were better than people remember: they had Real Madrid’s Valdano up front and Passarella was only on the bench.

Their best team was actually ‘94: Real Madrid’s Redondo anchoring the midfield and Batistuta and Caniggia up front. Their performance in the first half against a powerful Nigerian team was the best I’ve ever seen at international level.
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Yes Serie A with the North/South divide where the North had dominated until Diego showed up and put Napoli and the south of Italy on the footballing map. Yes Careca was a brilliant foil for Maradona, but the rest of that Napoli team weren't all that great.
 
90MPH said:
In my opinion Diego Maradona is the greatest footballer in my lifetime.

Was he better than Pele ? Probably not but I never saw Pele play live and it was a different era where Pele had so many amazing players in his side where as Maradona had an average Argentina side who almost single handily won his country the World Cup in 1986, and was close in 1990 as well.

He of course did have controversies as well on and off the pitch but overall he is a sports legend, he inspired so many footballers.
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I asked someone I know who watched Pele and Maradona at their peak and what he said was that the teams that Pele played in were superb with so many world class players around him, whereas Maradona had very few great players on the same team.
 
RIP.

You had to see him to believe him. I remember watching the 86 QF live at home - one minute he scores the most controversial goal, and the next, without doubt the greatest goal in WC history. His doubters silenced.

The 2 goals will no doubt be on repeat across all media channels for the next few days.
 
Technics 1210 said:
RIP.

You had to see him to believe him. I remember watching the 86 QF live at home - one minute he scores the most controversial goal, and the next, without doubt the greatest goal in WC history. His doubters silenced.

The 2 goals will no doubt be on repeat across all media channels for the next few days.
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Agree. The second goal against England was the GOAT goal in a world cup. The way he just seemed to casually glide pass the England players ending it with a beautiful finish was ART, nothing less.
 
I went to the Camp Nou a few years ago and even though Maradona was only at Barcelona for 2 seasons he is still remembered very fondly there. In fact the memorabilia regarding Maradona was amongst the most popular on the stadium tour.

I've just checked his stats and despite him being ill and injured at Barca he scored 38 goals in 58 games.
 
Saj said:
I asked someone I know who watched Pele and Maradona at their peak and what he said was that the teams that Pele played in were superb with so many world class players around him, whereas Maradona had very few great players on the same team.
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Exactly, I feel Maradona just had a bit more magic to him, raw talent that on his day he alone could carry his team over the line where as Pele was just as amazing but could get away with having a bad day,

I would put them on level.
 
Vey very sad news, every good thing comes to an end but this was too soon, he was too young to die, RIP.
 
I guess what people loved about him was he was one of them

Not fake or aloof but someone who the public could relate to. A flawed working class genius like george best
 
MP2011 said:
RIP legend.

Remember staying awake well past midnight during WC '90, played in Italy.

Maradona was so heart broken after losing the WC final to Germany after a questionable penalty being awarded to Germany.
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To be fair though, Argentina were a bang average side and where lucky to get to the final in which they were second best for majority of the game.
 
Junaids said:
There’s brilliant footage on YouTube of him as coach in South Africa in 2010.

Apart from Diego Forlan, nobody could score free kicks with the Jabulani ball. Messi’s attempts were ballooning high over the bar, every time.

Maradona is 50, and he sets up in training outside the box. Every single free kick he takes arrows into the corner of the net.

At 50 he could do things with a ball that Messi at almost 23 just couldn’t do.
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Vídeo please
 
Manunited18 said:
To be fair though, Argentina were a bang average side and where lucky to get to the final in which they were second best for majority of the game.
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Agree with all of that. They even lost their first game against Cameron of all teams who were probably playing football WC for the first time.

Still all this doesn't change the fact that penalty given to Germans was questionable.
 
Manunited18 said:
To be fair though, Argentina were a bang average side and where lucky to get to the final in which they were second best for majority of the game.
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They were bang average until the semi against Italy.

And suddenly we saw what the breakaway winner to knock Brazil had shown us: with Caniggia up front and Maradona just behind, Argentina were always in the game.

Go back and watch the Second Round winner v Brazil: Maradona had been amazing in 1986, but now he had the pace and movement of Caniggia added to that, and the two of them occupied five or six opponents.

That’s why the greatest ever German team only beat them by a single goal from a disputed penalty.
 
Nadeemp said:
Vídeo please
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[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is prone to exaggeration and sensationalism and we all know that. However, it contributes to his status as a wonderful poster.

The notion that Maradona at 50 with severe health issues and physical limitations could do with a football what an elite level footballer, widely regarded to be even more talented than Maradona himself, in his prime and peak fitness couldn’t, is nothing but ridiculous exaggeration.

Let me explain what was actually happening. The speed at which Maradona was taking free-kicks in 2010 was nowhere near the level of a professional footballer.

Any half decent professional footballer will arrow free-kicks into the corner if they are taking free-kicks at that speed, let alone one of the greatest of all time Diego Maradona whose glorious talent and muscle memory is still ingrained in him.

Maradona was not a better a free-kick taker than Messi in 2010, he was just much much slower, and that helped his accuracy. But none of those free-kicks that he took in 2010 would beat a semi-professional goalkeeper.

As I said earlier, I watched Maradona live in Dubai 4 years ago. In fact, I watched play around with a bunch of kids who were part of some football academy.

He took a couple of free-kicks and I have seen my friends kick a football with more power. Sure he arrowed them into the top corner, but at that speed, anyone with decent football talent would, let alone someone like Maradona.

If you knew nothing about football and only watched Maradona there for the first time, you would think he is some random dad playing around with children. He didn’t look like one of the greats of all time from any angle.

I have videos on my iPhone and I would like to show them but I don’t know how to post them here.

I normally don’t mind Junaids exaggeration and trolling, but at times he goes so overboard and preys on the naivety of people to such an extent that I cannot help but intervene.
 
Furthermore, I don’t see why this thread has to turn into a tiring debate between Messi and Maradona.

This is not a comparison thread - this is a thread to celebrate the life of an icon whose impact on football and Argentina as a country was incomparable.

Words cannot do justice what he meant to the Argentinian public and the impact he had on the society let alone football culture.

The fact that [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] had to come up with that nonsense anecdote not only reflects his insecurities regarding Messi but also his blatant lack of respect for Maradona.

It does not matter if people consider Messi to be better or vice-versa. None of that diminishes what Maradona achieved for Argentina or the legacy that he left.

So please don’t do this Maradona vs Messi rubbish in this thread. This is not the place or the time.
 
Today's football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo "could not even dream" of being admired as much as Diego Maradona was, says his former Argentina team-mate Ossie Ardiles.

Three days of national mourning have begun in Argentina after Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60.

His body will lie in state at the Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentina government, during that time.

"To be Diego Maradona was incredibly beautiful," Ardiles told the BBC.

"But on the other hand, it was not easy at all. Right from a really early age, he was subject to the press all the time. He didn't have a normal childhood, he never had normal teenage years.

"Everybody wanted to be with him, everybody wanted a piece of him, so it was incredibly difficult."

Maradona dies aged 60 - tributes and reactionHow Maradona's tormenting of England made him an Argentine deityObituary - Argentina's flawed football iconAn extraordinary life in pictures

Maradona, who played for clubs including Barcelona and Napoli, was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the quarter-finals.

Former Tottenham midfielder Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, said he was "a god" in Argentina, in Naples and all around the world.

"He will be remembered as a genius in football," he added. "You can see the extraordinary amount of interest that he generates.

"People like [Juventus and Portugal striker] Ronaldo, or people like [Barcelona and Argentina forward] Messi, they couldn't even dream of having this kind of admiration.

"That was the Maradona phenomenon - all the time."

A post-mortem examination was due to take place on Maradona's body later on Wednesday after he died at about midday local time at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires.

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

A minute's silence took place before Wednesday's Champions League matches and the same will happen before all other European fixtures this week.

Messi and Ronaldo were among current players to pay tribute, while Brazilian football great Pele said he hoped one day they would "play ball together in the sky".

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Maradona "made world football better".

"There was a banner in Argentina, one year ago, that I read that said: 'No matter what you have done with your life, Diego, it matters what you do for our lives,'" former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola added.

"It expresses perfectly what this guy gave us. The man of joy and pleasure and his commitment for world football."

Former Tottenham manager and Argentina defender Mauricio Pochettino said: "Broken with pain. Diego, you were my hero and friend. I was so fortunate to have shared football and life with you."

The Vatican said Pope Francis, an Argentine and a football fan, would be remembering Maradona in his prayers.

Fans mourn their hero

In Argentina, Wednesday's match between Sport Club Internacional and Maradona's former club Boca Juniors was postponed.

Fans flocked to La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where many were in tears - despite, in the case of some, being too young to remember Maradona's playing days.

They also congregated in the San Andres neighbourhood, where Maradona lived, and to La Plata, where he most recently was manager of local club Gimnasia y Esgrima.

In the country's capital, "gracias Diego" replaced train information on digital metro signs, while fans sang La Mano De Dios (The Hand Of God) in city suburbs.

Thousands of miles away, they also gathered outside Napoli's San Paolo stadium, which was lit up in tribute to the man who scored 81 goals in 188 appearances for the Italian club.

Fireworks erupted in the sky as those below, clad in Maradona shirts and even Maradona face masks, chanted and wept.

Source BBC
 
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Junaids said:
They were bang average until the semi against Italy.

And suddenly we saw what the breakaway winner to knock Brazil had shown us: with Caniggia up front and Maradona just behind, Argentina were always in the game.

Go back and watch the Second Round winner v Brazil: Maradona had been amazing in 1986, but now he had the pace and movement of Caniggia added to that, and the two of them occupied five or six opponents.

That’s why the greatest ever German team only beat them by a single goal from a disputed penalty.
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I watched the world cup , apart from the break away goal from cannigia Brazil battered Argentina, they hit the wood work on numerous occasions.

As for the greatest germany team , 1974 Germany team is widely recognised as one of the greatest teams ever, world and European champions, with truly magnificent players like gerd Muller and franz beckenbeur
 
[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

I treasure Lionel Messi. I have spent a small fortune watching him play for Argentina from Johannesburg to New Jersey.

He is incredibly similar to Maradona as a player - those two (and the injury-blighted Paolo Futre) I find remarkably similar.

The fact is, Messi has played in an era in which violent tackling has been carded out of the sport. We can only imagine what Maradona and Messi would have been in one another’s era.

Maradona won a World Cup and two Serie A titles. That’s why I put him a fraction ahead. But I treasure Messi.
 
The best of very best. Legend. Argentina and world will mourn for this loss. Drugs have such a drastic effect on sportsmen but he has certainly inspired the world with his good skills. RIP
 
Thousands of fans are paying their final respects to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.

Three days of national mourning have begun in Argentina after Maradona, a national hero, died following a heart attack on Wednesday at the age of 60.

Some wept, others blew kisses and said prayers as they filed past the coffin being displayed at Casa Rosada.

A million people are expected to visit his casket.

Officials had rushed to install cordons and other measures to try to limit the spread of coronavirus, as big crowds gathered on the capital's Plaza de Mayo on Wednesday night.

Late into the night, a sea of people in Argentina shirts thronged the streets across the country to mourn Maradona's death, and celebrate his life.

Maradona dies aged 60 - tributes and reactionObituary - Argentina's flawed football iconAn extraordinary life in pictures

Maradona, one of the greatest football players of all time who played for clubs including Barcelona and Napoli, was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals.

Former Tottenham midfielder Ossie Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, said he was "a god" in Argentina, in Naples and all around the world.

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires.

Local media said the preliminary results of an autopsy showed Maradona had suffered "acute heart failure".

He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

The last person to see Maradona alive was his nephew Johnny Esposito, according to statements gathered by officials.

media captionWatch all of Maradona's World Cup goals

Fans mourn 'eternal' giant

Maradona's death has triggered an outpouring of grief in Argentina and across the world.

At 22:00 on Wednesday (01:00 GMT) - an hour chosen to match the number on his shirt - stadiums across Argentina switched on their floodlights to honour his memory.

Fans flocked to La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where many were in tears.

IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES

image captionMaradona was venerated in Napoli, where he had a successful career

Thousands of miles away in Italy, fans also gathered outside Napoli's San Paolo stadium, which was lit up in tribute to the man who scored 81 goals in 188 appearances for the club.

Fireworks erupted in the sky as those below, clad in Maradona shirts and even Maradona face masks, chanted and wept.

A minute's silence took place before Wednesday's Champions League matches and the same will happen before all other European fixtures this week.
 
Even people who do not know Football know Maradona and have an idea of his legendary status.

This is shocking and sad. I can only imagine what people who grew up in 1970s and 1980s as kids following football must be feeling about this. Maradona's death marks end of an era and a lot of beautiful memories along with it.

Without question, THE most iconic footballer who ever lived.

Maradona isn't just among the greatest footballing, sporting icons ever but he is among the most iconic persons at a global levek in modern history,

Maradona belongs with Michael Jackson, Mahatama Gandhi, Martin Luther King level people.

The meories will live on.
 
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Diego Maradona: Footballer laid to rest as Argentina grieves

Football legend Diego Maradona has been buried in a private ceremony after a day of emotional scenes in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Only around two dozen relatives and close friends attended the final ceremony on Thursday.

But earlier huge crowds turned out to pay their respects, with many weeping, blowing kisses and praying as they filed past his coffin.

Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60.

His death triggered mourning around the world but nowhere was it felt more fiercely than in a country that saw him as a national hero.

Maradona's coffin - draped in Argentina's national flag and football shirt, bearing his trademark number 10 on the back - was on public display at the presidential palace on Thursday.

By mid-afternoon queues stretched back for more than a kilometre, and police clashed with mourners as they tried to close off the palace in anticipation of the wake scheduled for 16:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

There were reports of tear gas and rubber bullets being used as officers in riot gear struggled to hold back the crowd.

One well-wisher, Rubén Hernández, thought the police had overreacted.

"We were calm lining up and suddenly, the police started to fire rubber bullets," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. "Crazy, I just want to say goodbye to Diego."

Authorities were eventually forced to stop public viewing of the coffin to keep the peace.

The motorised funeral cortege drove his body to the Bella Vista cemetery on the outskirts of the city, where he was buried next to the graves of his parents.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55060614.
 
Jose Mourinho revealed the private side of Diego Maradona who would "call me after my big defeats, but never my victories" following the Argentina legend's passing.

Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, died at the age of 60 on Wednesday and Mourinho, who knew the World Cup winner well, paid tribute to his friend after Tottenham's 4-0 win over Ludogorets in the Europa League 24 hours after he passed away.

"Maradona the world knows, the world never forgets," he said. "I made sure that my son knows a lot about him, even being born after he was a player. I know my son will make sure when he is a father he will not let his kids forget.

"It was a bit similar with [Alfredo] Di Stefano; I never saw him play football, but my dad made sure I knew a lot about him. With these generations, we have players of our generations, and in my generation was what everybody knows."

"Then there's Diego the guy. That one, I miss. I feel sorry that I didn't spend more time with him, I would have loved to. I think his family, his friends and colleagues are very privileged to know him well and spend time with him.

"I know him well enough and in my big defeats, he would always call me. In my big victories, never. But I will miss Diego, and I am very sad but I have a smile because with him, every minute I spent with him was to laugh."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...-sides-of-his-former-friend-after-his-passing
 
Maradona: Anger over funeral home photos with legend's open coffin

Three workers hired to help with the funeral and burial of Diego Maradona have been condemned for taking photos next to his open coffin.

A funeral parlour took on the three to help prepare the coffin of the football icon, who died on Wednesday aged 60.

In two pictures, the men can be seen posing next to the open casket at the parlour, smiling with their thumbs up.

The photos surfaced online as Maradona's body lay in repose at the presidential palace, provoking outrage.

Maradona's agent and lawyer, Matías Morla, vowed to take legal action against the "scoundrel" responsible for the photos.

"For the memory of my friend, I won't rest until he pays for such an atrocity," Mr Morla wrote on Twitter.

The manager of the Sepelios Pinier funeral parlour in the Paternal district of Buenos Aires, Matías Picón, told local media that the three men in the photos were "outsourced employees" who had helped carry the heavy coffin.

"We are devastated," Mr Picón, told the TN news channel. "The family trusted us, we have been working with them for a long time."

Mr Picón said his company had organised funeral services for other members of the Maradona family. "The family has total confidence in us, that's why we are so affected," he said.

"My father is 75 years old and he is crying, I am crying, my brother too, we are destroyed," Mr Picón added.

When he called Maradona's ex-wife, Claudia Villafañe, to tell her about the photos, "she was furious".

The Picóns said they did not know if the Maradona family planned to take any legal action.

Judicial sources told the Télam news agency that no crime had been reported in relation to the photos, so no complaint had been filed by prosecutors.

Maradona was buried in a private ceremony on Thursday, the first of three days of mourning declared over his death in Argentina.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55100817
 
Diego Maradona: Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser relives 'Hand of God' match

The Tunisian referee from England's infamous defeat by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup says he is "proud and honoured" to have helped Diego Maradona score the 'goal of the century'.

Maradona, who died on Wednesday at the age of 60, beat several England players on a mazy dribble from just inside his own half before scoring to put Argentina 2-0 up, four minutes after scoring the controversial goal he famously credited to the "Hand of God".

Referee Ali Bin Nasser, now 76, also said he had no option but to award the first goal and recalled how Maradona gave him a signed shirt when they met again in 2015.

On the second goal of the game, Bin Nasser told BBC Sport: "He took off from midfield, and I was shadowing him closely. When you're refereeing someone like Maradona, you can't take your eyes off them.

"They tried to take him down on three occasions, but his desire for victory kept pushing him forward.

"Every time I saw him get back up, I would shout 'advantage' until he reached the box.

"I was watching from outside the box, wondering how this player shook off three defenders, and sprinted for nearly 50 metres. I thought 'the defenders will try to take him down now'. I was expecting that to happen and was ready to whistle for a penalty.

"To my surprise, he dribbled past another defender and the goalkeeper [Peter Shilton] to score what would become 'the goal of the century'.

"I'm proud and honoured as a person and as a referee for having played a role in that historical achievement.

"Had I whistled [for] a foul in any of the first three contacts, we wouldn't have witnessed something that magnificent. That advantage I gave is one my proudest achievements."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/55100669
 
There will be a minute’s applause before kick-off at all premierleague matches this weekend in memory of the late, great Diego Maradona.

Players and match officials will wear black armbands
 
Diego Maradona's lawyer has threatened to take legal action against the "scoundrel" who had a photo taken next to the football icon's open casket as his body lay in state in Buenos Aires.

In an image widely shared online, a man can be seen giving a thumbs up to the camera with one hand, while the other appears to be touching the forehead of the late World Cup winner, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday, aged 60.

Venting his anger on Twitter, Maradona's lawyer Matias Morla, wrote: "I am going to personally take care of finding the scoundrel who took that photograph.

"For the memory of my friend I will not rest until I pay for such an aberration.

"All those responsible for such an act of cowardice will pay."

The man in the photo was among three people hired by funeral parlour Sepelios Pinier to help prepare Maradona's body and carry the coffin, according to Argentinian TV channel TN.

It said the manager Matias Picon was "devastated" and claimed the trio were not directly employed by them and that they were "outsourced" by a third party.

Speaking to TN, he said he did not know if Maradona's relatives would now sue them, and said: "The family trusted us, we have been working with them for a long time.

"My father is 75-years-old and he is crying, I am crying, my brother too, we are destroyed."

Maradona's funeral sparked clashes in Argentina after thousands of fans were unable to get a glimpse of his coffin.

Tens of thousands managed to pay their respects on Thursday as his body lay in state, before viewing was cut short at 6pm by the family, who wanted his body taken for burial.

Fans had gathered across the city, adorned in flags and football strips and singing songs, in the hope of being able to pay their respects.

However, people became impatient at being unable to see the casket and threw bottles, bricks and metal fencing at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Only family members and close friends attended, and the footballing legend was buried next to the graves of his parents, Dalma and Diego.

ttp://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?297679-Who-is-the-best-white-ball-batsman-in-the-world
 
In an image widely shared online, a man can be seen giving a thumbs up to the camera with one hand, while the other appears to be touching the forehead of the late World Cup winner, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday, aged 60.
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The depths some people will go.
 
A funeral worker who took a photo next to the open coffin of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona has asked fans for forgiveness.

Claudio Fernández was pictured standing next to Maradona's body, alongside his son, who made a thumbs-up gesture. A third man appeared in his own photo.

Maradona died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires, on Wednesday.

The images surfaced online as Maradona's body lay in repose at the presidential palace, provoking outrage.

The footballer's lawyer, Matías Morla, has vowed to take action against "the scoundrel" responsible for the photos.

Mr Fernandez told Radio 10 on Friday that the decision to take the photo was "something instantaneous".

"My son, like every kid, raised his thumb and they took the photo," he said. "I know that many people have been offended, they have taken it badly."

Mr Fernández said he had received death threats.

"They say they are going to kill us, break our heads," he told the radio station.

The Sepelios Pinier funeral parlour said the three men were "outsourced employees" who had helped carry the coffin.

Manager of the parlour, Matías Picón, told the TN news channel that the company was "devastated" by the images.

He said his company had organised funeral services for other members of the Maradona family. "The family has total confidence in us, that's why we are so affected," he said.

"My father is 75 years old and he is crying, I am crying, my brother too, we are destroyed," Mr Picón added.

A preliminary post-mortem, widely reported by Argentinean media, indicated that Maradona had suffered "acute heart failure".

He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency. He had a tumultuous personal life, scarred by alcohol and cocaine addiction, which caused him health problems.

Many of the footballing world's biggest stars have paid tribute to Maradona, including former England striker Gary Lineker, who said the Argentine was "by some distance, the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55110700
 
A funeral worker who took a selfie next to the open casket of Diego Maradona as his body lay in state in Buenos Aires has been fired and begged for forgiveness.
 
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