Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona, who scored the āHand of Godā goal in 1986 and that led his country to a World Cup title, has passed away at the age of 60.
Maradonaās spokesman, SebastiĆ”n Sanchi, confirmed the news, revealing he died Wednesday (November 25) of a heart attack, two weeks after being released from a hospital in Buenos Aires following brain surgery. Maradona was known in his native Argentina as the “Pibe de Oro” or “Golden Boy” for his two-decade career that saw him play in four different World Cup series. He was awarded FIFA Player of the Century in 2000, and the no. 10 jersey he wore became synonymous with his name. Argentine President Alfredo FernĆ”ndez reacted to the news of Maradona’s death, writing, “You took us to the top of the world. You made us incredibly happy. You were the greatest of all.”
Maradona had health scares in the past, as he was hospitalized near death in 2000 and again in 2004 for heart problems that were reportedly from cocaine use. He has hospitalized againĀ in early 2007 for acute hepatitis that his doctor said was a result of excessive drinking and eating.