Football fans across the world plunged into mourning as the
news of Maradona’s death came out from Argentina’s Benavidez, where he was
recovering after undergoing a brain surgery on November 3.

Diego Maradona, arguably the best footballer the game has
ever seen, died at the age of 60 after an eventful life which see-sawed between
the heights of success and depths of cocaine and alcohol addictions which afflicted
him during most of his life.

Fans mourned the death of the football genius around the
world and fellow professionals remembered him with awe.

“Diego is eternal” Lionel Messi, Maradona’s compatriot and protege, said on Instagram. 

British filmmaker Asif Kapadia paid his tribute to Maradona
through a tweet, confessing to be blessed to have touched the “left foot” of
the ‘Golden Boy’.

“Cant 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,” Kapadia, who made a documentary on him, wrote.

“Always in our hearts” gushed Napoli, the Italian club,
which rose to the top rung of Italian football after it signed Maradona in 1984.

Spanish club Sevilla, with which Maradona had a brief stay
during the early 1990s, expressed its gratitude to the departed for playing for the club.

“A hero for an entire country and football itself. One of
the greatest players to have graced the game of football, and we were lucky
enough to enjoy you at Sevilla FC. Diego Armando Maradona, forever eternal.
Rest in peace,” it wrote.

Portugal national Cristiano Ronaldo remembered his “friend”
and spoke of the void which he left behind him.

“Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye
to an eternal genius. One of the best ever. An unparalleled magician. He leaves
too soon, but leaves a legacy without limits and a void that will never be
filled. Rest in peace, ace. You will never be forgotten,” the Juventus player
tweeted.

Sports channel ESPN tweeted a snapshot featuring several
players who were shook by the death of football giant.

Brazilian football legend Pele remembered Maradona as a
friend and hoped to join him someday “in the sky” for a game.

“What sad news. I lost a great friend and the world lost a
legend. There is still much to be said, but for now, may God give strength to
family members. One day, I hope we can play ball together in the sky,” said the
football legend who was always compared with Maradona as the best ever
footballer by fans and professionals.  

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva commemorated Maradona for his solidarity
with people of Brazil, another nation mad about football.

“Diego Armando Maradona was a football giant, from Argentina
and from all over the world, a talent and a unique personality. His genius and
passion in the countryside, his intensity in life and his commitment to Latin
American sovereignty marked our time.

“In the field, he was one of the biggest opponents, perhaps
the biggest, that the Brazilian team has faced. Outside of sports rivalry, he
was a great friend of Brazil. I can only thank you for your solidarity with
popular causes and with the Brazilian people. Maradona will never be forgotten,”
said the politician who was the head of the Brazilian state from 2003 to 2010.  

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Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly said Maradona was
the reason he watched football. 

“My hero no more ..my mad genius rest in peace ..I watched
football for you..” he said.