Football legend Diego Armando Maradona has passed away at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home.
The Argentine Football Association expressed “its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend”, adding: “You will always be in our hearts.”
Argentina President Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning after the news of Maradona’s death.
“You took us to the top of the world. You made us immensely happy,” the president tweeted.
Maradona, who in 1986 led Argentina to a World Cup triumph, had a history of health problems.
Earlier this month, he underwent successful brain surgery for a blood clot in a specialist private clinic in Buenos Aires.
Maradona played for Barcelona and Napoli during his club career, winning two Serie A titles with the Italian side.
He started his career with Argentinos Juniors, also playing for Sevilla, and Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland.
He scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina, representing them in four World Cups.
Maradona led his country to the 1990 final in Italy, where they were beaten by West Germany, before captaining them again in the United States in 1994, but was sent home after failing a drugs test for ephedrine.
He retired from professional football in 1997, on his 37th birthday, during his second stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
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