Olivos (Argentina) (AFP)

Diego Maradona, Argentine football legend, underwent successful surgery for a bruise on his head, five days after celebrating his 60th birthday, and was continuing his recovery on Wednesday.

"The hematoma was successfully evacuated. Diego tolerated the operation well. He is awake and all is well," his personal doctor, Dr. Leopoldo Luque, announced at a press conference on Tuesday evening in front of the Olivos private clinic. , in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires, where the intervention lasted two hours.

"He will remain under observation," added the doctor.

The star had been transferred there after a first hospitalization on Monday in La Plata, 60 km south of the capital.

On Wednesday, his lawyer Matias Morla said his famous client "(was) well: he is continuing his recovery", acknowledging that the ex-player "was very depressed" in recent weeks.

Dalma, one of the five recognized children of the former player, also wanted to be reassuring: "I have just left the clinic and I would like to thank you for all your expressions of love towards my dad, of my sister (Gianinna) and I. Thank you to those who pray for him, "she wrote on her Twitter account.

Groups of supporters gathered outside the clinic.

They greeted the good news there with songs and euphoria.

A giant canvas installed at the doors of the hospital shows the player embracing the 1986 World Cup. "A lot of strength Diego, we love you" is written on a sign.

When the operation was announced, the keyword #FuerzaDiego (Courage Diego) had spread on social networks.

Diego Maradona had been transported to this clinic in Buenos Aires after a CT scan revealed the presence of the hematoma.

Repeating that the extraction of a subdural hematoma, located in the head, is a "routine operation", Dr. Luque recalled that the former Argentine president Cristina Kirchner (2008-2015) had undergone the same operation during his tenure.

"He is an elderly patient with a lot of pressure in his life. This is a time when we have to help him. It is very difficult to be Maradona", he added, before the operation.

Dr Luque had indicated earlier in the day that the ex-player suffered "from anemia" and was "a little dehydrated".

- Health problems -

From the hospitalization of the former N.10, he had ruled out any link with the coronavirus epidemic which has hit Argentina hard.

Confined since March due to the pandemic and his fragile health, Diego Maradona insisted on Friday to lead the training of his players at the club of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, on his 60th birthday.

But he didn't seem in good shape and was walking with difficulty.

He only stayed a few minutes on the pitch before retiring with the help of his assistants.

The life of the Argentine star has been punctuated by many health problems, some of which are linked to excesses of all kinds which have sometimes made him flirt with death.

In 2000, he had a heart attack following an overdose in the Uruguayan seaside resort of Punta del Este.

He then followed a long cure in Cuba.

In 2004, when he weighed over 100 kg, another heart attack struck him down in Buenos Aires, but he was okay.

He had then undergone surgery on his stomach which had allowed him to lose a lot of weight.

Dr Luque also explained that due to this intervention, the former champion had difficulty fixing the iron, which made him more sensitive to the risks of anemia.

In 2007, excessive alcohol consumption had driven him to the hospital.

Lately, he had to have a prosthesis fitted because of his sore knees.

Much like Brazilian Pelé, who turned 80 in October, Maradona is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

© 2020 AFP