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The Argentine Football Federation confirmed the news on Wednesday and posted a short message on their social media platforms.
Considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game, Maradona became a household name after inspiring his country to World Cup glory in 1986.
He took center stage at the tournament with a memorable performance against England where he scored an iconic goal which he later described as the “Hand of God”.
The little forward beat legendary goalie Peter Shilton and hit the ball into the net. Despite the obvious handball, the goal was allowed to stay as the referee did not see the foul.
Later in the game he scored one of the best goals in history after making his way past seven England defenders.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has announced three days of national mourning for the superstar’s passing and posted a tribute to Maradona on Twitter.
Meanwhile, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has said a minute’s silence will be observed before all European matches this week in honor of the Argentine.
“He will go down in history as someone who set football on fire and delighted fans young and old with his skill and talent,” Čeferin said in a statement.
Life off the pitch
Maradona has also played for top European clubs such as Barcelona and Napoli in a sparkling career which has also been marked by much controversy.
He won two Serie A titles with the Italian team who tweeted “Forever. Goodbye Diego” with a blue heart.
When Maradona joined Napoli, one newsreader remarked that “Italy’s poorest city buys the world’s most expensive player”.
While her performance on the pitch dazzled, Maradona faced a number of demons.
During his stay in Italy, he came into contact with the Camorra – the Neapolitan mafia – and struggled with addiction.
He failed a drug test in 1991 and received a 15-month gambling ban.
A nomadic managerial career followed his playing years, leading him to Argentina, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. More recently, he trained Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina.
Earlier this month, Maradona underwent successful surgery for a subdural hematoma – more commonly known as a blood clot in the brain.
The football world reacts
Tributes have poured in with former clubs and players from yesterday and today paying tribute.
Fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi, who many considered to be the Maradona of modern times, said it was “a very sad day”.
“He’s leaving us but he’s not going anywhere because Diego is eternal. I keep all the beautiful moments I had with him and wanted to send my condolences and best wishes to all his friends and family,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has said goodbye to an ‘eternal genius’.
Juan Pablo Varsky and Aleks Klosok contributed reporting.
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