Diego Maradona, widely-regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has passed away aged 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to reports.
The Argentine played for the likes of Barcelona and Napoli during his club career, winning two Serie A titles with the Italian side, before going on to manage teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico, before taking charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina’s top flight at the time of his death.
Maradona — who was reported to have had successful brain surgery earlier this month — also led Argentina to World Cup success in 1986, a tournament that featured the iconic ‘Hand of God’ moment that saw them defeat England in the quarter-finals.
After being appointed head coach of the Argentina national team in 2008, he left after the 2010 World Cup where they were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals.
In this file photo taken on July 04, 1984 Maradona arrives in Roma from Barcelona, before being transferred to Naples. Maradona, foreground, is attacked by Belgium’s Guy Vandermissen during the opening game of the Soccer World Cup, in Barcelona, Spain, June 13, 1982.
Image Credit: AP Maradona reacts to fans during his first training session as coach of Dorados at the Banorte stadium in Culiacan, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on September 10, 2018. n this June 27, 2010 file photo, Argentina head coach Maradona gestures during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. Maradona raises his arms in the air after teammate Jorge Burruchaga scored the winning goal in the second half during the World Cup final in Mexico, June 29, 1994. n this October 10, 2009 file photo, under the pouring rain, Argentina’s coach Maradona looks up during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Peru, in Buenos Aires. In this October 25, 1997 file photo, Maradona celebrates a goal on his last official soccer game with Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In this April 22, 2008 file photo, Maradona celebrates a goal by Boca Juniors at a Copa Libertadores match against Venezuela’s Union Maracaibo in Buenos Aires.
In this file photo taken on June 29, 1986 Argentina’s captain Maradona kisses the World Soccer Cup won by his team after a 3-2 victory over West Germany on at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City, watched by Mexican President Miguel de La Madrid (L) and West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Fans take photos of Maradona in the stands before the World Cup match against Nigeria at Saint Petersburg Stadium, Russia, on June 26, 2018. Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez welcomes Maradona at Miraflores Palace in Caracas July 22, 2010. Maradona celebrates his team’s goal against Nigeria during the 2010 World Cup Group B soccer match at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 12, 2010. n this file photo taken on October 12, 2016 Maradona is pictured prior to compete in the ‘Match of Peace – United for Peace’ charity football match promoted by the Schools for Encounter foundation at the Olympic stadium in Rome. In this December 26, 2019 file photo, Maradona flashes victory signs to fans below at the Casa Rosada government house after meeting with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this March 1987 file photo, Pele, left, and Maradona hold “Sports Oscar” trophies in Milan, Rome. June 22, 1986 file photo: Maradona, left, beats England’s goalkeeper Peter Shilton to a high ball and scores his first of two goals at the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match in Mexico City. This was the day of the “Hand of God,” when Maradona used his left fist to knock a ball past England’s Shilton. In this file photo taken on December 11, 2000 Maradona holds his FIFA’s internet “Footballer of the century” award during the FIFA’s awards gala ceremony in Rome. In this file photo taken on December 12, 2017 Maradona gestures during a football workshop with school students in Barasat, around 35 Km north of Kolkata.
Maradona scores a goal for Argentina against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final. Maradona reacts to receiving a yellow card during first half play in the World Cup final against Germany in Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in this June 29, 1986. Maradona (C) is removed by police from a Buenos Aires apartment, on April 26, 1991, after being arrested for the possession of a half-kilo of cocaine. FILE PHOTO: Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (R) greets Maradona during a rally in Buenos Aires, December 2, 2010. Maradona (C) is fouled by South Korea’s Kim Young-se (L) during their first round World Cup match in Mexico City in this June 2, 1986 file photo. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Pele and Diego Maradona pose ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw in Moscow, on December 1, 2017. In this file photo taken on July 08, 1990 Mexican referee Ernesto Codesal Mendez gives a yellow card to Maradona (L) in Rome during the World Cup soccer final between Argentina and West Germany.
In this file photo taken on January 21, 2000 Maradona (R) poses for photographs next to his daughters and wife Claudia (L) at a hotel in Havana during her birthday celebration.
Maradona and Claudia Villafane are shown at their wedding in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 7, 1989. Maradona cheers after the Napoli team clinched its first Italian major league title in Naples, Italy, on May 10, 1987. Maradona gets emotional during a news conference after his presentation as the new head coach of the Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata soccer team in La Plata, Argentina, on September 8, 2019. In this June 25, 1994 file photo, Maradona leaves the field of play for a random drug test with a medical technician of the International Soccer Federation (FIFA) after the team’s 2-1 win over Nigeria in Foxborough, Massachusetts. In this October 27, 2005 file photo, Cuban President Fidel Castro, right, meets Maradona on the program “Mesa Redonda” in Havana, Cuba. Maradona kicks the ball during a charity soccer match called “Derby of the Heart” at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 12, 2008. Maradona poses with his wife Claudia Villafane and his mother Dalma (L) during his wedding party in Buenos Aires November 8, 1989. In this file photo taken on June 14, 2012 Maradona (R) embraces his father “Don Diego” before the start of the Copa Libertadores 2012 first leg semifinal football match between Argentina’s Boca Juniors and Universidad de Chile at “La Bombonera” stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This file photo taken on November 11, 2020 shows Maradona (R) shaking hands with his doctor Leopoldo Luque in Olivos, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In this June 29, 1986 file photo, Diego Maradona holds up his team’s trophy after Argentina’s 3-2 victory over West Germany at the World Cup final soccer match at Atzeca Stadium in Mexico City.