Former Argentina teammate Ossie Ortiz says he couldn’t “dream” that today’s soccer superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were as admired as Diego Maradona.
Three days of national mourning have begun in Argentina after Maradona Died on wednesday At age 60.
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At that time, his body was lying in the Rosada de Gaza, the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
“It was incredibly beautiful to have Diego Maradona,” Ortiz told the BBC.
“But on the other hand, it’s not that easy. From a very young age, he has been subject to magazines all the time. He does not have a normal childhood, he has never had a normal adolescence ”.
“Everyone wanted to be with him, everyone wanted a role with him, so it was incredibly difficult.”
Maradona, who played for clubs like Barcelona and Napoli, was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the quarterfinals.
The former Tottenham Ardles midfielder, who played with Maradona in the 1982 World Cup, has been described as “a god” in Argentina, Naples and around the world.
“He will be remembered as a football genius,” he added. “You can see the extraordinary interest it creates.
“The people want [Juventus and Portugal striker] Ronaldo, or do people like it [Barcelona and Argentina forward] Messi, they couldn’t even dream of this kind of admiration.
“That is the Maradona event, all the time.”
An autopsy on Maradona’s body was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, after he died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires.
The Argentine former midfielder and attacking manager underwent successful surgery for cerebral palsy in early November and was due to be treated for alcohol dependence.
There was a minute’s silence before Wednesday’s Champions League game, before all other European games this week.
Messi and Ronaldo are among the current players to pay tribute, while Brazilian soccer giant Pelé said he hopes to one day “play ball together in heaven.”
Maradona “made world football better,” said Manchester City manager Pep Cardiola.
“There was a banner in Argentina a year ago and I said: ‘Diego, it doesn’t matter what you do with your life, what you do is important for our lives,'” added former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Cardiola.
“It fully reveals what this boy has given us. Happiness and pleasure and his commitment to world football ”.
Former Tottenham coach and Argentine defender Mauricio Pochettino said: “Broken by pain. Diego, you are my hero and friend. I am very lucky to share football and life with you ”.
The Vatican says that Pope Francis, an Argentine and soccer fan, will remember Maradona in his prayers.
Fans mourn their hero
In Argentina, Wednesday’s match between Sport Club International and Maradona’s former club Boca Juniors was postponed.
Fans flocked to La Pamponera, Boca Juniors’ field in Buenos Aires, where many shed tears, in the case of some, even though Maradona’s sporting days were too young to be remembered.
They met in the San Andrés neighborhood where Maradona lived and in La Plata, where he was recently manager of the local Kimnasia y Esgrima club.
In the nation’s capital, “Gracious Diego” changed the train’s information on the digital signage of the subway, while fans chanted La Mano de Dios (God’s Hand) in the suburbs.
Thousands of miles away, they gathered in front of the São Paulo stadium in Naples, paying tribute to the man who scored 81 goals in 188 appearances for the Italian club.
Those below, wearing Maradona shirts and even Maradona masks, exploded firecrackers in the sky.
Maradona is not just an Argentine athlete, he is also an icon, politician and certainly a caring rogue. There is deep sadness as people prepare to pay tribute to their soccer superstar.
But his influence extends beyond Argentina: South Americans are proud of their soccer heritage, which is why this news has an echo in the region.
In neighboring Brazil, where her man Pelé vied for the title of best footballer in the world, Maradona’s death made headlines – a passion for a sport so beautiful that it could end most of the competition between the two nations.
But the party was put aside paying tribute to Maradona as a dear friend.
“I hope that one day we can kick heaven together,” he said.
A Napoli statement said: “Everyone is waiting for our words, but what words can we use for such pain?
“Now is the time for tears. Then there will be the moment of words.
“We are sad. We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out. We are in shock. A devastating blow for the city and the club ”.
A day of mourning will take place in Naples on Thursday.
The city’s mayor, Luigi de Magistres, has asked the studio to change the name of São Paulo in memory of Maradona.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, Paul Elliott, who played Maradona while at Pizza, said: “I have to say, it was extraordinary.
“Napoli is the poorest part of southern Italy, but its whole world was built around Maradona and Napoli.
“If you look at where the club was when he arrived, the impact of one man was without a doubt the key to his success and the way he gave everyone hope.
“It is only because of his extraordinary and sublime talent.”
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