The world lost its greatest football legend yesterday. Aged 60, Diego Maradona was considered to be one of the genius players of all time. The 1986 World Cup winner and the Argentinian team’s former manager had been in hospital in Buenos Aires following a major surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain earlier this month. While he was being treated for alcohol dependency, his sudden demise came as a shock to his fans across the world. The Argentine Football Association made the announcement on Twitter, writing, “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.” Soon after, the Argentine president declared three days of national mourning.
His successful career made him a global star and the national hero of his home country. Diego’s passing was mourned by celebrities around the globe, including A-listers from the Bollywood and Hollywood showbiz industries too.
Diego Maradona….you made football even more beautiful. You will be sorely missed and may you entertain and enthral heaven as you did this world. RIP…. pic.twitter.com/PlR2Laxfj2
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 25, 2020
I have known the game of football because of you……As a child I have always wanted to be Maradona…. but There can never be another you…..Your game will be missed….. #RIPMaradona ??
— Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) November 25, 2020
From Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra to Ranveer Singh and Kareena Kapoor Khan, artists condoled the death of the star footballer. SRK – who has previously confessed his undying love for the sport – mourned Deigo’s death in a heartfelt Twitter post. “Diego Maradona, you made football even more beautiful. You will be sorely missed and may you entertain and enthrall heaven as you did in this world. RIP,” he wrote. Following suit, Bajirao Mastani actor Ranveer Singh posted an old picture of Diego, captioning it with a heartbreak emoji. Moreover, actor Sidharth Shukla gave Diego credit for his stellar understanding of and passion for the game. He tweeted, “I have known the game of football because of you. As a child I have always wanted to be Maradona but there can never be another you. Your game will be missed #RIPMaradona.” Sharing a picture of Diego Maradona, Kareena wrote on Instagram, “Rest in Power” along with a broken heart. PeeCee followed with, “RIP Diego Maradona. One of the greatest football players of all time. Atrue legend.”
#RIPMaradona legend! #GOAT
— Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) November 25, 2020
#RIPMaradona a true legend & you were my inspiration to play football! pic.twitter.com/FEqw1B72at
— Esha Deol (@Esha_Deol) November 25, 2020
This image says it all. GOAT #Maradona Rest In Glory …. pic.twitter.com/1FQSvN3tVD
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) November 25, 2020
RIP Maradona .. the greatest genius in football after Pele ..
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) November 25, 2020
Football has lost one of its greatest icons. A true legend. ?? ?
RIP #diegomaradona ? pic.twitter.com/0iyRJ9GDSB— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) November 25, 2020
Have followed Maradona’s game & life for years. Maidaan brought me closer to the game. He was a football legend and a passionate sportsman. Sad to see him go. RIP Diego Maradona.
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) November 26, 2020
Abhishek Bachchan added, “#RIPMaradona legend! #GOAT.” Echoing his sentiments, Esha Deol penned, “#RIPMaradona a true legend & you were my inspiration to play football!” Riteish Deshmukh uploaded a picture of Diego in full form while playing a football game back in the day, and captioned it, “This image says it all. GOAT #Maradona Rest In Glory.” Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, “Football has lost one of its greatest icons. A true legend. RIP #diegomaradona” On the other hand, Aftab Shivdasani wrote, “A childhood hero for all of us has left us. A part of football history ended today. Rest in Glory Diego Maradona. May God grant your soul eternal peace. Deepest condolences to his family. #DiegoArmandoMaradona #RIP.” Actor-producer Ajay Devgn, who will be slipping into the avatar of a football player in his upcoming film Maidaan, wrote on the micro-blogging site, “Have followed Maradona’s game and life for years. Maidaan brought me closer to the game. He was a football legend and a passionate sportsman. Sad to see him go. RIP Diego Maradona.”
Easily the greatest footballer to grace the pitch ever. #DiegoMaradona is the man my generation will always identify the sport with. U shone the brightest. May u find peace in the other world. Goodbye, legend pic.twitter.com/gvEJ3dL2cc
— Adnan Siddiqui (@adnanactor) November 25, 2020
You will be missed ? Maradona pic.twitter.com/kJ69CXKqh0
— Bilal Ashraf (@IamBilalAshraf) November 26, 2020
R.I.P #DiegoArmandoMaradona A big loss indeed.
— Armeena ? (@ArmeenaRK) November 25, 2020
RIP LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/0ayVgzq4WM
— Ali Rehman Khan (@alirehmankhan) November 25, 2020
A bevy of Pakistani stars also paid their respects to the late legend. Actor Adnan Siddiqui wrote, “Easily the greatest footballer to grace the pitch ever. #DiegoMaradona is the man my generation will always identify the sport with. U shone the brightest. May u find peace in the other world. Goodbye, legend.” Sharing an artwork portraying Maradona as an angel, actor Bilal Ashraf penned, “You will be missed, Maradona.” Armeena Rana Khan posted, “R.I.P #DiegoArmandoMaradona A big loss indeed.” Ali Rehman Khan wrote, “RIP Legend.” Yasir Hussain summed up the world’s thoughts, writing, ” Aaj soccer yateem ho gaya (Today soccer has become an orphan).”