Football legend Diego Maradona dies aged 60

He died at his home just two weeks after leaving hospital where he underwent surgery on a blot clot in his brain.

Maradona helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1986 and was said to be the greatest footballer of his generation. He also helped Napoli win the Serie A title and the UEFA cup.

The Argentinian Football Association made the announcement today. The AFA said on Twitter: “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.”

As well as winning the 1986 World Cup he led his side to the final in 1990. He also managed them in South Africa in 2010.

Maradona’s successes made him a global star and a national hero in Argentina but his career was also blighted by controversies on and off the field.

His ‘Hand of God’’ goal against England in the 1986 quarter-finals, when he pushed the ball into the net with his hand, earned him infamy – although he followed up by scoring the “goal of the century”, a remarkable solo effort, in the same game. His international playing career ended in shame when he failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and he was notorious for a wayward lifestyle throughout his life.

He was also banned from football in 1991 after testing positive for cocaine while playing for Napoli. However, he remained a revered figure at the Italian club, where he won two Serie A titles.

He also played for Barcelona, Sevilla, Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys and was most recently manager of Gimnasia y Esgrima in La Plata, Argentina.

Diego Maradona is greeted by guest of honour Pele after the Centenary Classic at Wembley in London.

Gary Lineker, who played in the England side in that quarter-final defeat, tweeted: “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”

Former Spain goalkeeper and fellow World Cup winner Iker Casillas tweeted: that it was a “sad day for football”, describing Maradona as a “genius of this sport”.

Argentina's Diego Maradona celebrates his country winning the Olympic Football competition at the National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China.

Asif Kapadia, who directed the 2019 film Maradona, tweeted: “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 our best to show the world the man, the myth, the fighter he was. The greatest.”

Football clubs around the world paid tribute to Maradona.

Boca Juniors, where Maradona made his name before securing a then world-record transfer to Barcelona, tweeted: “Eternal thanks. Eternal Diego.”

Real Madrid – great rivals of one of Maradona’s former clubs, Barcelona – paid tribute to “one of the greatest players in all history”.

“Diego Armando Maradona leaves an immense legacy, which has become a myth for millions of fans around the world,” the club said in a statement.

Manchester City posted a photo of him embracing Sergio Aguero, adding: “We’re joining the footballing world in saying farewell to one of the absolute greats.”

And Liverpool tweeted: “A true great of the game. Rest in peace, Diego Maradona.”

Dr Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician, said the former player had shown signs of improvement after a successful operation three weeks ago.

Dr Luque said Maradona “laughed” and “grabbed my hand” just a day after he had the procedure.

“Diego is without any type of neurological deficit, without any type of complication associated with surgery,” Luque said, addressing reporters at the clinic’s door.

“He has an excellent post-operative period, the laboratory parameters even improved.

“The first impression is it is favourable, but it is difficult to evaluate.”