The news of the death of Diego Maradona has sent shock waves to football lovers around the world.
The 60-year-old football legend died on Wednesday, November 25, after suffering from cardiac arrest in his home country.
The country of Argentina is currently grief-stricken over the demise of the 1986 World Cup winner. His body arrived at the presidential palace in the country to lie in state.
Maradona, who was born on 30 October 1960, holds a record that is nearly unmatched. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.
The footballer came from humble beginnings and he received his first soccer ball as a gift at age 3 and he developed a soft spot for the game.
At age eight, Maradona was discovered by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighbourhood club, Estrella Roja.
The footballer, at age 12, thrilled spectators with his mastery of the art of football during the halftime intermissions of first division games.
He started his career with Argentinos Juniors before joining Boca Juniors and went on to play for Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys before returning to Boca in 1995.
Sadly, his life wasn’t always all sunshine and rainbows as he was addicted to cocaine from the mid-1980s until 2004.
Maradona married long-time fiancée, Claudia Villafañe, on 7 November 1984, and they had two daughters. The couple later went their separate ways in 2004.
He listed Brazilian playmaker, Rivelino and Manchester United winger George Best among his inspirations growing up.
Maradona made 91 appearances for Argentina between 1977 and 1994 and he scored 34 goals at international level before ending his career.
He had the best years of his club career in Italy, as he played a massive role in Napoli winning the Serie A title in the 1986-87 and 1989-90 seasons.
He was the all-time leading goalscorer for Napoli, with 115 goals, until his record was broken by Marek Hamšík in 2017.
Maradona also lifted the UEFA Cup with Napoli in 1989 and he won three trophies during his time at Barca – including the Copa del Rey in 1983.
As a coach, Maradona also had stints in charge of Textil Mandiyu, Racing Club, Al-Wasl, Fujairah and Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico before being appointed by Gimnasia de La Plata.
