….”Maradona, turns like a little eel, he comes away from trouble, little squat man … comes inside Butcher, leaves him for dead, outside Fenwick, leaves him for dead, and puts the ball away … and that is why Maradona is the greatest player in the world’’…
Commentary from Byron Butler on BBC Radio five live during the World cup quarter-final when Diego Maradona scored a sensational individual against England in the Aztec Stadium
Diego Armando Maradona, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has died tragically aged 60.
The Argentinian icon who inspired his country to World Cup glory in 1986 led a troubled personal life but his star will never fade after his extraordinary football exploits.
The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home.
In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed “its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend”, adding: “You will always be in our hearts.“
Declaring three days of national mourning, Alberto Fernandez, the president of Argentina, said: “You took us to the top of the world. You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of them all.”
“Today is a bad day, a very sad day for all Argentines,” said Argentina president Alberto Fernández in a TV interview. “I doubt that we will ever see another player like Maradona. The best thing about Diego is that he was an absolutely genuine man, he was not a fake man, he was a genuine man who expressed everything with the force with which he played football, he defended what he wanted, mistreated what
he hated. That was Maradona in his purest state.”
Brazil legend Pele issued a brief statement which read: “One day we’ll kick a ball together in the sky above.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker said: “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.”
Eternas gracias. Eterno Diego. pic.twitter.com/SZVNOJnZ1j
— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) November 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/usainbolt/status/1331641900022042624
Thank you for everything, Diego pic.twitter.com/bJ9l3ixY7A
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/en_sscnapoli/status/1331643069347860486
Thank dear Dieguito for your friendship, for your footbal, sublime, without comparison. Simply, the best football player in the history of football. So many enjoyable moments together. Impossible to say which one was the best. RIP my dear friend. https://t.co/1xshiEZQVh
— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) November 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1331639582983655426
