The death of Diego Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time has been announced on Wednesday at the age of 60 which has turned the sport industry and people of Argentina into mourning.
Diego was popular alongside with Pele as one of the finest players ever to grace the field, the Argentine World Cup-winning captain had undergone brain surgery this month and died of a heart attack, a member of his entourage told AFP.
Maradona will always be remembered for his “Hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City, when he pushed the ball into the net. Minutes later he swerved through the helpless English defenders for a superb second goal, capping a victory that perfectly encapsulated the mixture of brilliant skill and often outrageous behaviour that ran through his life.
Diego struggled with addiction to cocaine and alcohol and had been plagued by poor health in recent years.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez announced three days of national mourning in the South American country.
Argentine media first reported Wednesday that Maradona had suffered a serious setback in his bid to recover from the surgery earlier this month to remove a clot lodged between his brain and skull.
Family members were summoned to his home north of Buenos Aires before the announcement of his death was made.
The life of the divine footballing talent that was Diego Armando Maradona was marked by wild highs and lows, with Argentina and club sides Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli.
Excesses with drugs and alcohol had long taken their toll on the mercurial talent’s health.
Maradona was admitted to hospital three times in the last 20 years for serious health issues.
He will be remembered for being a great footballer.