Daily Express

MARADONA DIES AT 60

RIP: The eternal, flawed genius ... now safe in the hands of God

- By Gerard Couzens and Michael Knowles

THE football world was in mourning last night as “eternal genius” Diego Maradona – arguably the greatest player ever – died from a heart attack.

The Argentine star, 60, passed away at home just three weeks after having surgery on a blood clot in his brain.

Maradona battled a cocaine addiction throughout his career which was plagued by controvers­y and scandal as well as success.

The reported father of 11 was even linked to the Mafia during his seven- year stint at Napoli.

But his death united football in grief yesterday for a player considered one of the greatest of all time for his sublime skills and extraordin­ary talent.

Legendary Brazil star Pele paid tribute, saying: “Sad news to lose a friend like that.

“May God give enough strength to his family. For sure, one day we will kick a ball together in heaven.”

Maradona’s successes made him a global star and a national hero in Argentina, with murals painted across many buildings.

The pinnacle of his career came in 1986 when he played every minute of Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Mexico.

But it was also here where the iconic “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarter- finals – when he pushed the ball into the net beyond the reach of goalkeeper Peter Shilton – earned infamy.

Blessed

He then scored one of the greatest goals of all time to seal England’s fate.

Gary Lineker, who played in that game, said last night: “By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time.

“After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God.”

Former England midfielder Peter Reid was also on the pitch in Mexico City. He said: “It’s very, very sad news. He was one of the greatest footballer­s ever to have walked the planet.

“He had his demons, with drug abuse, but no one could take away what a great footballer he was. He was strong, had everything. He could score goals, pick a pass. In 86, he was just outstandin­g.

“It is a great loss. He has left a great football legacy. We were playing against someone who was at the height of their very special career. He made people look foolish because he was so great.

“I did ask him about the Hand of God and he laughed. He just reiterated it was the Hand of God.

“As bad as that goal was, the second one was a great goal. If you go to Argentina and mention who the greatest was, Argentinia­ns, to a man, say it was Maradona.” Their star was a precocious childhood talent, bursting on to the grand stage as a teenager.

He made his profession­al debut for Argentinos Juniors at the age of 15 and earned his first Argentina cap at 16 years and 120 days.

Maradona joined Boca Juniors before his stunning skills alerted Barcelona in 1982. He spent two years at the Nou Camp before heading to Napoli.

He became the southern Italian city’s messiah, guiding the team to two league championsh­ips and a first European title – the 1989 UEFA Cup.

Napoli said in a statement last night: “A devastatin­g blow for both city and club. We are in mourning. We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out. We are in shock. Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego.”

Maradona’s internatio­nal playing career ended in shame when he failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

And he was notorious for a wayward lifestyle. He was also banned from football in 1991 after testing positive for cocaine while playing for Napoli.

But it never clouded admiration for his footballin­g prowess. Former England striker Michael Owen said he was a “player like no other”.

Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo – a modern great of the game – said: “I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius. 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.”

Argentina president Alberto Fernandez has declared three days of mourning for the South American icon.

Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the Football Associatio­n, said: “Our deepest condolence­s go to Diego Maradona’s family and friends, the Argentine Football Associatio­n and the Argentinia­n people – as well as the clubs he served. Undoubtedl­y one of the finest footballer­s to ever play the game, his remarkable achievemen­ts on the global stage will never be forgotten.

“It is important we celebrate his football genius and mourn his passing at the age of just 60.”

Maradona came close to death before, suffering cocaine- induced heart failure in 2000 and underwent years of rehabilita­tion.

The troubled individual paid for a wild lifestyle during and after his playing days, with a gastric bypass operation to lose weight in 2005 and was hospitalis­ed again two years later for alcohol- induced hepatitis. He also fell ill at the last World Cup in Russia, where he was

filmed passing out in an executive box during one of Argentina’s group matches.

It was suggested last night that Maradona’s death could spark a family feud over his estate as he leaves behind five children he recognised and six he has only been linked to.

One of his daughters had even joked before he passed away that he could make up a starting XI with his children after a 23- yearold Argentinia­n became the latest woman fighting to prove she was his daughter.

Maradona had recognised two sons and three daughters by four women including his ex- wife Claudia Villafane and former longterm partner Veronica Ojeda.

And Giannina Maradona, one of the former footballer’s two daughters by Villafane, joked after the names of three children said to be his were made public in Cuba: “Just three more needed for the team of 11. You can do it!!!”

Then 23- year- old Magali Gil emerged as the latest possible member of the growing brood in October last year.

An Argentinia­n TV show said she had a daughter which would have made Maradona a grandfathe­r.

Gil was understood to have launched legal proceeding­s to prove her blood link. And in February broke her silence to c onfirm the situation had not moved forward and begged him to agree to a DNA test.

She had already confirmed on Italian TV that she had been adopted as a youngster and her birth mum contacted her out of the blue at the start of 2019 to tell her who her real father was.

The bombshell came after teenager Santiago Lara, who comes from the same Argentinia­n city of La Plata where Maradona managed Gimnasia de La Plata, made a renewed TV appeal for Maradona to recognise him as his son.

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 ??  ?? Iconic... Maradona’s ‘ Hand of God’ goal against England and, inset from left, holding the 1986 World Cup, with his doctor, , celebratin­g scoring for Napoli and with Pele
Iconic... Maradona’s ‘ Hand of God’ goal against England and, inset from left, holding the 1986 World Cup, with his doctor, , celebratin­g scoring for Napoli and with Pele
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