Diego Maradona prince of football has passed away at the age of 60.
Ambar Bhattacharya, abptakmaa, Kolkata, 25th Nov 2020: The Argentina legend – regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time – reportedly suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest and was left in a serious condition.
In Argentine it was then reported later on Wednesday that Maradona had passed away.
Maradona was hospitalised earlier this month after undergoing surgery for a blood clot on the brain. The surgery was successful but, just weeks later, Maradona has passed away.
Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, having knocked England out of the tournament in a match which saw him score the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal and another – widely considered to be one of the greatest goals of all time.
Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time on the pitch, his life off the pitch was equally notorious – amid battles with drug and alcohol addiction.
Argentina’s president Alberto Fernandez decreed three days of mourning following Maradona’s death.
‘You took us to the top of the world. You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all,’ the Argentine leader tweeted. ‘Thanks for having existed, Diego. We will miss you for a lifetime.’
The news has been confirmed by ESPN Argentina and TyC Sports.
Journalist Cesar Luis Merlo reports that doctors attempted to revive Maradona.
But it seems that the awful news is sadly true: football has lost one of its most legendary players.
The footballer’s family have yet to make any formal comment.
Maradona is survived by five children, including his daughters Dalma, 33, and Ganina, 31, by his first and only wife Claudia Villafane, 58, to whom he was married from 1984 to 2004.
Nine ambulances were sent to his house at around midday on Wednesday in the exclusive gated residential neighbourhood of San Andres north of Buenos Aires where Maradona went to live after leaving hospital.
Local reports said one of the nurses caring for him had raised the alarm after discovering he had suffered a suspected heart attack.
None of the paramedics who rushed to the house were able to do anything to save him
Argentina’s former manager Cesar Luis Menotti said: ‘I’m devastated. I can’t believe it. I’m absolutely gutted. There’s no more I can say at this moment.
‘I thought at first the news of his death was fake news but obviously it’s what happened. It’s terrible and a tragic surprise because measures had been taken to make sure he was being looked after.’
There is no suggestion there is anything suspicious about Maradona’s death, but state prosecutors are on their way to the house where the soccer legend died as part of a routine investigation.
