Argentina legend Maradona dies at 60 after suffering heart attack
Argentine soccer icon Diego Maradona died Wednesday, the Argentine Football Association confirmed. He was 60 years old.
Maradona died after suffering a heart attack at his home near Buenos Aires, the former player’s lawyer told Reuters.
He was hospitalized earlier this month, and Maradona underwent emergency brain surgery to repair a subdural hematoma following the detection of a blood clot on the surface of his brain. He remained in Buenos Aires under the watch of his psychologist Diego Diaz and was treated for alcohol dependency.
One of the greatest players of all time, Maradona guided Argentina to victory at the 1986 World Cup, and he starred at the club level for Barcelona, Napoli, and Boca Juniors, among others.
Captain of the Albiceleste side that captured the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona is largely remembered for the “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarterfinals. The diminutive second striker was involved in 10 goals (five goals and five assists) while leading Argentina to its second World Cup conquest, a mark that hasn’t been matched since.
Maradona would go on to score 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina while appearing in four World Cups. The Buenos Aires-born footballing deity also led Argentina to the 1990 final before bowing out to West Germany, and he took part in the 1994 installment in the United States before being sent home after testing positive for ephedrine.
During a decorated club career that lasted over two decades, Maradona lifted three domestic trophies with Barcelona before guiding Napoli to the Scudetto in 1986-87 and 1989-90. He also won the UEFA Cup with Napoli in 1988-89, marking the Italian side’s most successful period in its history.
“We are in mourning,” Napoli spokesman Nicola Lombardo said, according to ESPN. “We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out. We are in shock.”
“Everyone is waiting for words from us. But what words could be possible for pain as strong as that we are currently experiencing? Now is the time for tears. Later, it will be words,” the club added.
Maradona returned to Boca Juniors for a second stint, and retired with his hometown side in 1997 on his 37th birthday.
After ending his vaunted playing career, the hallowed star battled a variety of health issues. He was admitted to hospital multiple times, including in 2004 when he dealt with heart and respiratory problems related to a longstanding – and well documented – battle with drug addiction. He also underwent multiple gastric bypass operations to manage his weight, while treatment for alcohol abuse was also required.
Argentina appointed Maradona as its national team manager in 2008, and he stepped down after losing to Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup.
Maradona then held coaching positions in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico, and he was managing Argentinian top-flight side Gimnasia y Esgrima at the time of his death.
