“My mother thinks I am the best. And I was raised to always believe what my mother tells me.” Diego Maradona
Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona has died aged 60 after suffering from heart failure. A source from the Argentinian Ministry of Justice who was present during the autopsy reported to CNN en Espanõl that the cause of death was an:
"acute secondary lung edema to exacerbated chronic heart failure"
Heart failure is a chronic condition that gradually interferes with the heart's ability to pump blood. As a result, fluid builds up in the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary edema. The condition is a common problem that can ultimately lead to death.
Upon confirming Maradona's death on Wednesday, the Argentine Football Association tweeted:
"The Argentine Football Association, through its President Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona. You will always be in our hearts,"
La Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, a través de su Presidente Claudio Tapia, manifiesta su más profundo dolor por el fallecimiento de nuestra leyenda, Diego Armando Maradona.
— AFA (@afa) November 25, 2020
Siempre estarás en nuestros corazones 💙 pic.twitter.com/xh6DdfCFed
After the news broke of the death of the football legend, many stories of the player's unique and often eccentric life were once again reported by the media. This includes an instance where he criticised the Pope and the Catholic Church for their apparent hypocrisy towards the poor and underprivileged.
After a visit to the Vatican City in 2000, Maradona, allegedly put off by the vast wealth he witnessed in the Holy See, said:
"I've been to the Vatican and seen the gold ceilings. And then I hear the pope saying that the church was concerned about poor kids. So? Sell the ceilings, mate!"
In 2016, on another visit to the Vatican, he repeated the story from 2000 to reporters, saying:
"I went into the Vatican and saw that golden roof, and I said to myself how could somebody be such a son of b---- as to live with a golden roof and then go to poor countries and kiss children with a full belly? I stopped believing."
Maradona did say however that after his 2016 visit, his faith was restored by the new and current pope, Pope Francis I.
The new Pope, a football fan and fellow Argentinian, has said that he is praying for who he called 'soccer's poet'. A Vatican spokesperson added:
"The pope was informed about the death of Diego Maradona, he recalls the times he met him in these past years with affection, and he is remembering him in his prayers, as he did in the past days when he was informed about his condition."
Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and played the prominent part of his career with Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli. He was also manager of the Argentinian national team from 2008 to 2010. He was also famed for his' hand of God moment when Argentina beat England 2-1 in the Mexico 1986 World Cup semi-final. During the game, Maradona punched the ball over the England goalkeeper's head and into the goal. However the referee did not clearly see the foul play and the goal was awarded. Maradona later claimed that it was God's revenge for the Falkland's war that the UK and Argentina had fought 4 years earlier.
Maradona was awarded along with Brazilian legend Pelé the joint honour of 'Player of the 20th century' in the year 2000.
His life was not without controversy though, he was a larger than life character who battled a severe cocaine addiction and was sent home from the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for a banned substance. The drug test took place immediately after a game between Argentina and Greece in which many claimed they could tell from Maradona's extreme behaviour, and super-human abilities, that he was taking performance enhancing drugs.
Responding to the news of Maradona's death, famous soccer players and eminent persons from the soccer world shared their mourning on social media.
Pelé, another soccer legend, tweeted:
"I have 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 his family members. One day, I hope, we will play football together in heaven."
Que notícia triste. Eu perdi um grande amigo e o mundo perdeu uma lenda. Ainda há muito a ser dito, mas por agora, que Deus dê força para os familiares. Um dia, eu espero que possamos jogar bola juntos no céu. pic.twitter.com/6Li76HTikA
— Pelé (@Pele) November 25, 2020
Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo said goodbye, posting on twitter:
"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. Rest in peace, ace. You will never be forgotten," Ronaldo wrote on Twitter.
Hoje despeço-me de um amigo e o Mundo despede-se de um génio eterno. Um dos melhores de todos os tempos. Um mágico inigualável. Parte demasiado cedo, mas deixa um legado sem limites e um vazio que jamais será preenchido. Descansa em paz, craque. Nunca serás esquecido.🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/WTS21uxmdL
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 25, 2020
Paris Saint-Germain and France striker Kylian Mbappé tweeted after changing his picture to one of Maradona:
"You will stay in the history of football forever. Thanks you for all the pleasure you gave to the whole world."
RIP Legend.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) November 25, 2020
You will stay in the history of football forever. Thanks you for all the pleasure you gave to the whole world 🙌🏽🙏🏽❤️
AÏE AÏE AÏE F*CKING 2020 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/8xc1CDKDg2
Barcelona, one of Maradona's former clubs, expressed their gratitude by posting:
"Thank you for everything, Diego."
Thank you for everything, Diego pic.twitter.com/bJ9l3ixY7A
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2020
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