Tributes pour in after Diego Maradona dies aged 60

Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60, and the footballing world has paid tribute to one fo the greatest to ever grace a football pitch

Reuben Pinder

Tributes pour in after Diego Maradona dies aged 60

RIP Diego

The footballing world is mourning. On Wednesday afternoon, it was confirmed that Diego Maradona had died from a cardiac arrest at the tender age of 60. The former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona star was an icon of the game and brought joy to millions around the world.

Tributes have been pouring in since the news broke, with his first and last club Boca Juniors tweeting: “Eternas Gracias. Eterno Diego.”

Eternas gracias. Eterno Diego. pic.twitter.com/SZVNOJnZ1j

— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) November 25, 2020

The club with whom he enjoyed his most success and whose fans love him like nobody else, Napoli, posted the following: “The world awaits our words but there are no words to describe the pain we’re going through. Now is the time to grieve.”

The world awaits our words but there are no words to describe the pain we're going through. Now is the time to grieve.
Diego 💙 pic.twitter.com/40TTOIDNQ4

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 25, 2020

Lionel Messi, who has donned Maradona’s number 10 shirt for Argentina for over a decade now, posted to Facebook, saying: ”

A very sad day for all Argentines and football. He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal.”

Asif Kapadia, who directed the iconic biopic of Maradona’s life, wrote: “Can’t quite believe DM has gone. Hard to process. He always seemed indestructible. I had 10 hours with the man! I touched his left foot. We did out best to show the world the man, the myth, the fighter he was. The greatest.”

Cant quite believe DM has gone. Hard to process. He always seemed indestructible. I had 10 hours with the man!! I touched his left foot. We did our best to show the world the man, the myth, the fighter he was. The greatest #legend #DiegoMaradona @MaradonaMovie #Diego #maradona pic.twitter.com/4BSULN9rdt

— asifkapadia (@asifkapadia) November 25, 2020

Brazilian legend Pelé said: “What sad news. I 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 family members. One day, I hope we can play ball together in the sky.”

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

Cant quite believe DM has gone. Hard to process. He always seemed indestructible. I had 10 hours with the man!! I touched his left foot. We did our best to show the world the man, the myth, the fighter he was. The greatest #legend #DiegoMaradona @MaradonaMovie #Diego #maradona pic.twitter.com/4BSULN9rdt

— asifkapadia (@asifkapadia) November 25, 2020

Award winning football journalist Daniel Taylor wrote: “One of my first heroes and one of the big reasons why I fell in love with football.” A sentiment echoed by so many.

One of my first heroes and one of the big reasons why I fell in love with football. https://t.co/e9mimB6Eml

— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) November 25, 2020

Gary Lineker, who played against Maradona for England, posted: “By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed by troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God.”

Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. 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. #RipDiego

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 25, 2020

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford simply put” Legendary,” with a broken heart emoji. That Rashford is too young to have ever seen Maradona play live but is still so affected by his passing demonstrates the lasting legacy on the game.

Legendary 💔 pic.twitter.com/BRd5oAXV9S

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) November 25, 2020

Piers Morgan said: “A wild, passionate, complex footballing genius so brilliantly talented he reduced even the best opposing teams to mass quivering wrecks. Winning the World Cup for Argentina made him a Great. But what he did at Napoli made him a God. Such sad news.”

RIP Diego Maradona, 60.
A wild, passionate, complex footballing genius so brilliantly talented he reduced even the best opposing teams to mass quivering wrecks.
Winning the World Cup for Argentina made him a Great.
But what he did at Napoli made him a God. Such sad news. pic.twitter.com/H4R6oVfpmv

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 25, 2020

Football journalist Guillem Balague posted a heartfelt video message in tribute to El Diego.