BUENOS Aires (Argentina): Football legend Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60, his spokesman announced on Wednesday.
Renowned along with Brazil’s Pele as one of the greatest footballers of all time, the Argentine World Cup winning captain died of a heart attack, having undergone brain surgery earlier this month.
President Alberto Fernandez immediately announced three days of national mourning in the South American country.
Shortly before the announcement that shocked a nation, Argentine media reported Maradona had suffered a serious health setback on Wednesday and was being treated by doctors at his home north of Buenos Aires.
“There are four ambulances at the door of the residence. They have summoned family members to come. It is serious,” the TyC Sports channel reported.
Maradona was football’s archetypal troubled genius, a world-beating player whose life and career scaled the most dazzling heights but also plumbed the darkest depths.
Napoli on Wednesday bid farewell to Maradona, who won the hearts of the southern Italian city of Naples by leading them to their only two league titles in 1987 and 1990.
“For always. Ciao Diego,” the club wrote with a blue heart emoji shortly after the news broke that the Argentine had died of a heart attack aged 60.
