- Title: Wrap: the world mourns death of Argentine soccer great Maradona
- Date: 25th November 2020
- Summary: TIGRE, ARGENTINA (NOVEMBER 25, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (SPANISH) SAN ISIDRO ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOHN BROYAD, SAYING: "We can confirm, with great sadness, that affects the country and the entire world, the passing of Diego Armando Marando, at approximately 12:00 noon today. FORENSIC POLICE VEHICLE CARRYING BODY OF MARADONA LEAVING BEHIND MEDIA SCRUM
- Embargoed: 9th December 2020 22:53
- Keywords: Argentina Barcelona Buenos Aires Italy Maradona Messi Naples Pele football superstar
- Location: TIGRE, BUENOS AIRES AND VILLA FIORITO, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA/ NAPLES, ITALY/ BARCELONA, SPAIN/ INTERNET
- City: TIGRE, BUENOS AIRES AND VILLA FIORITO, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA/ NAPLES, ITALY/ BARCELONA, SPAIN/ INTERNET
- Country: Various
- Topics: Soccer,Sport,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001D62GWUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Diego Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time before drug and alcohol addiction marred his career, died on Wednesday (November 25) at his home in Argentina after suffering a heart attack, his lawyer said. He was 60.
Beloved in his homeland after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 and adored in Italy for taking Napoli to two Serie A titles, Maradona was a uniquely gifted player who rose from the tough streets of Buenos Aires to reach the pinnacle of his sport.
In Buenos Aires, people began pouring on to the streets to mourn the nation's favourite son, gathering in the San Andres neighbourhood where he lived, in Boca, the gritty barrio where he first became a star, and in the nearby city of La Plata where he had lately been technical director for local team Gimnasia y Esgrima.
The Argentine government has declared three days of mourning. President Alberto Fernandez said in a tweet, "You took us to the highest point in the world, and made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thank you for having been with us, Diego. We will miss you all our lives."
A wake would take place at Casa Rosada presidential palace from Thursday (November 26) until Saturday (November 28), a government spokesman said.
Pele, the Brazilian footballer who is considered one of the only players to have come close to Maradona's skill level, was also quick to pay tribute to the Argentine.
"Certainly, one day we'll kick a ball together in the sky above," he said.
At club level, Maradona broke on to the scene with Buenos Aires' Boca Juniors before playing in Spain with Barcelona. He was idolised in Italy after leading Napoli to their first ever Italian league title in 1987.
The mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, called for the team's stadium to be renamed after the player.
Years of drug use, overeating and alcoholism truncated his stellar career and altered his appearance from a lithe athlete who could slalom effortlessly through teams to a bloated addict who nearly died of cocaine-induced heart failure in 2000.
But at his peak he was, said Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, an "unparalleled magician".
"Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius," he said.
"One of the best ever. An unparalleled magician. He leaves too soon, but leaves a legacy without limits and a void that will never be filled. Rest in peace, ace. You will never be forgotten."
(Production: Gabriela Boccaccio, Hanna Rantala) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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