RIP Diego
The footballing world is mourning. On Wednesday afternoon, it was confirmed that Diego Maradona had died from a cardiac arrest at the tender age of 60. The former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona star was an icon of the game and brought joy to millions around the world.
Tributes have been pouring in since the news broke, with his first and last club Boca Juniors tweeting: "Eternas Gracias. Eterno Diego."
https://twitter.com/BocaJrsOficial/status/1331639645713600512
The club with whom he enjoyed his most success and whose fans love him like nobody else, Napoli, posted the following: "The world awaits our words but there are no words to describe the pain we're going through. Now is the time to grieve."
https://twitter.com/en_sscnapoli/status/1331652820689440769
Lionel Messi, who has donned Maradona's number 10 shirt for Argentina for over a decade now, posted to Facebook, saying: "
A very sad day for all Argentines and football. He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal."
Asif Kapadia, who directed the iconic biopic of Maradona's life, wrote: "Can't quite believe DM has gone. Hard to process. He always seemed indestructible. I had 10 hours with the man! I touched his left foot. We did out best to show the world the man, the myth, the fighter he was. The greatest."
https://twitter.com/asifkapadia/status/1331639600578752517
Brazilian legend Pelé said: "What sad news. I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. There is still much to be said, but for now, may God give strength to family members. One day, I hope we can play ball together in the sky."
https://twitter.com/Pele/status/1331649438570442754
https://twitter.com/Pele/status/1331649438570442754
https://twitter.com/asifkapadia/status/1331639600578752517?s=20
Award winning football journalist Daniel Taylor wrote: "One of my first heroes and one of the big reasons why I fell in love with football." A sentiment echoed by so many.
https://twitter.com/DTathletic/status/1331639893135679497?s=20
Gary Lineker, who played against Maradona for England, posted: "By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed by troubled life, hopefully he'll finally find some comfort in the hands of God."
https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1331637479640870917?s=20
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford simply put" Legendary," with a broken heart emoji. That Rashford is too young to have ever seen Maradona play live but is still so affected by his passing demonstrates the lasting legacy on the game.
https://twitter.com/MarcusRashford/status/1331635708042354691?s=20
Piers Morgan said: "A wild, passionate, complex footballing genius so brilliantly talented he reduced even the best opposing teams to mass quivering wrecks. Winning the World Cup for Argentina made him a Great. But what he did at Napoli made him a God. Such sad news."
https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1331641975586566146
Football journalist Guillem Balague posted a heartfelt video message in tribute to El Diego.
https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/1331649678715207681?s=20
