KATHMANDU: Legendary footballer Diego Armando Maradona has died at the age of 60, according to reports in his homeland of Argentina.
According to Clarin, he suffered a cardiac arrest in hospital where he had been staying following an operation for a blood clot on the brain earlier this month.
The news comes just two weeks after he was seen leaving hospital and taken to a recovery clinic to be treated for alcohol dependency.
Maradona, who led his country to World Cup triumph in 1986, had a successful operation for a blood clot on the brain earlier in November.
However, alcohol withdrawal symptoms kept him in hospital for longer.
The Argentine national team’s official Twitter account confirmed the news on Wednesday, paying tribute to one of the nation’s favorite footballing sons.
Hasta siempre, Diego.
Serás #Eterno en cada corazón del planeta fútbol. pic.twitter.com/jcsGP3GlNI
— Selección Argentina ?? (@Argentina) November 25, 2020
“You will be eternal in every heart of the football world,” the message stated as it bade farewell to the superstar.
Maradona began his professional career with Argentinos Juniors at the age of 16 and went on to be considered one of the greatest players ever to step onto a football field.
The diminutive left-footed forward went on to represent Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys as a player, and the likes of Racing Club, Dorados, Gimnasia and the Argentina national team later as a coach.
It was with the Albiceleste, though, that his name was immortalised.
(With inputs from Agencies)