(Update 1: Adds details and tributes from Pele, Messi, Ronaldo,
By
Argentine head of state
The 80-year-old Pele, who was co-recipient of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award along with Maradona, lamented the death of one of the few players who could be called his equal.
"Sad news to lose a friend like that. May God give enough strength to his family. For sure, one day we will kick a ball together in heaven," the Brazilian icon said.
The 33-year-old Messi, who has been a worthy successor to Maradona in terms of magic on the pitch in a diminutive package but thus far has been unable to match his countryman's
"A very sad day for all Argentines and for soccer. He's taking his leave but he's not going away, because Diego is eternal," Messi, who was coached by Maradona at the 2010
The 35-year-old Ronaldo also paid heartfelt tribute to the Argentine.
"Today I bid farewell to a friend and the world bids farewell to an eternal genius. One of the best ever. An incomparable magician. He leaves too soon but leaves a boundless legacy and a void that will never be filled," the
The 1.65-meter (5-foot-5) Maradona led
His wizardry on the pitch was perhaps best expressed in a goal he scored in the quarterfinals of the 1986
The match, which
The Argentine attacking midfielder later said memorably that the goal had been scored by "the hand of God," angering English fans at a time when the enmity of the three-month 1982 war between
But Maradona's reach in popular culture went far beyond sports, and that was evident in the reactions to his death by figures from the worlds of entertainment and politics, including
"You lifted us to the greatest of heights. You brought us tremendous joy. You were the greatest of them all. Thank you for having been here with us, Diego. We'll miss you all our lives," said Fernandez, a big fan of Maradona's first professional club, Argentinos Juniors.
Like the Argentine president, the Italian city of
"Let's rename
The mayor recalled the night of
Following the historic 1987 triumph,
Maradona, who at the time of his death was the head coach of Argentine first-division club Gimnasia, died on Wednesday at a house in a gated community north of
He had taken up residence there on
A couple of days after that operation and before Maradona had been discharged from the hospital, his personal physician, Dr.
Maradona underwent treatment for drug addiction for many years, including a stint in
Maradona's press agent,
Local media attributed his death to a heart attack and said Maradona had received emergency medical assistance at his home, although his family and friends have not yet confirmed the circumstances surrounding his death.
An autopsy was scheduled to take place later Wednesday.
Fernandez, meanwhile, said Maradona's wake will be held starting Thursday at
© 2020 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc., source