Maradona dead: Argentina legend and one of world's greatest footballers dies aged 60
There will be three days of national mourning, Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez has said.
Wednesday 25 November 2020 23:41, UK
The legendary Argentinian player Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60, the country's football association has said.
Maradona, who captained the 1986 World Cup-winning team, is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time - if not the greatest.
There will be three days of national mourning, Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez said, adding that Maradona "made us immensely happy".
A minute's silence was held in the player's memory at the Champions League matches on Wednesday evening.
Latest reaction live after Maradona dies aged 60
The star, who underwent surgery for a subdural haematoma a few weeks ago, died of a heart attack, his lawyer said.
It happened at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, according to Argentinian media.
A subdural haematoma is a serious condition where a blood clot develops between the skull and the surface of the brain. It is usually caused by a head injury.
The player's doctor, Leopoldo Luque, said he had shown signs of improvement since the operation.
Maradona was also admitted to hospital recently because he was "not well psychologically".
He had been "very sad for a week" and "didn't want to eat", according to one of his representatives.
As well as the World Cup triumph in 1986, when Argentina beat West Germany in the final, Maradona also led his country to the final of the Italia 90 tournament, and managed them in South Africa in 2010.
His international playing career ended after he failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
He was also banned from football in 1991 after testing positive for cocaine while playing for Italian side Napoli, where he won two Serie A titles.
His "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 quarter-finals - when he pushed the ball into the net with his hand - was followed by a remarkable solo effort, in which he dribbled past half the England team.
Just 14 years later, the man born in a shanty town on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires - the fifth of eight children - nearly died of cocaine-induced heart failure.
In 2005, he had a gastric bypass operation to lose weight, and was treated in 2007 for life-threatening alcohol-induced hepatitis.
Given his first football as an infant, he slept with it under his arm and was discovered in street kickabouts by the scout for Argentinos Juniors, making his league debut 10 days before his 16th birthday.
At 17, he just missed being included in Argentina's 1978 World Cup-winning squad at home.
Former England striker Gary Lineker, who played against Maradona in the World Cup quarter-final in 1986, said the Argentinian star was "by some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time".
He added: "After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he'll finally find some comfort in the hands of God."
Brazil's Pele said: "I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. One day, I hope we can play ball together in the sky."
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo said Maradona was an "eternal genius" and an "unmatched magician".
Graeme Souness, who played against Maradona during his time in Italy with Sampdoria, said he was "tiny but fearless", an "absolute warrior and ridiculously brave".
To play against him was to be in the "presence of greatness", the former Liverpool captain added.
Napoli said Maradona's death was a "devastating blow" for both the city and the club.
Among those paying tribute was Pope Francis, with the Vatican saying he remembered the footballer with affection and was keeping him in his prayers.
During his time in football, Maradona also played for Barcelona, Sevilla, Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys and was most recently manager of Gimnasia y Esgrima in La Plata, Argentina.
He coached in the Middle East and Mexico, as well as in his home country.