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Buenos Aires (dpa) - Millions of people around the world mourn Diego Maradona.
Stunned by the death of the football legend, seasoned men in his home country Argentina burst into tears.
Thousands of people gathered in the capital Buenos Aires at the La Bombonera stadium of his former club Boca Juniors and the obelisk in the city center to commemorate their idol.
On electronic billboards above the city motorway and in the subway entrances it was read: "Thank you, Diego".
Maradona died Wednesday of a heart attack at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, aged just 60.
Called medics could not resuscitate him.
He was released from the hospital two weeks ago after doctors operated on him there for a cerebral haemorrhage.
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"Today is a very sad day for all Argentines," said head of state Alberto Fernández on the television channel TyC Sports.
"Diego represented Argentina in the world, he filled us with joy, and we will never be able to repay that."
The President ordered a three-day state mourning.
In front of the entrance to the Bombonera in the Boca waterfront, fans lit candles, laid flowers and hung rosaries.
"He is a legend.
We'll miss him, ”said a woman named Patricia on TN TV.
She sat on the floor, hugging her son and fighting back tears.
"He will be remembered as the greatest."
Maradona fan Diego said: “This is a tough blow.
He was the greatest player in history.
There will never be someone like him again. "
From Thursday, the Argentines should be able to say goodbye to Maradona in the government palace Casa Rosada.
This honor was last bestowed on ex-President Néstor Kirchner ten years ago.
In the midst of the corona pandemic, the Argentine government is now expecting up to one million mourners.
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"I have a great friend and the world has lost a legend," wrote the Brazilian Seleção idol Pelé (80) on Twitter.
"I hope one day we can play soccer together in heaven."
Very few footballers, like Maradona and Pelé, have become real icons of their sport.
In Argentina, fans could fall in love with Lionel Messi (33) in the new millennium - with Maradona's almost fatherly blessing.
"He's leaving us, but he's not going away because Diego is eternal," Messi wrote on Instagram.
"I keep all the wonderful moments I remembered with him."
In 1986, Maradona became world champion with Argentina, and the goal he scored with the "hand of God" during the tournament is in the history books of football.
Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who was defeated by Germany as captain in the final, paid tribute to the deceased: “With Diego Maradona, one of the greatest footballers in history has passed away.
(...) I am proud to have seen him on the pitch. "
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Again and again, the superstar of yore had to struggle with health problems after the end of his active career.
In 2000, doctors diagnosed a heart condition caused by cocaine use.
Withdrawal cures and a stomach reduction followed.
Recently, however, Maradona looked extremely battered again.
Four weeks ago on his 60th birthday, companions had to help him walk.
The dribble artist grew up on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in poor conditions and was discovered at a young age by the first division club Argentinos Juniors.
He made his debut in the first division at the age of 15, played for the Argentine national team for the first time at the age of 16 - and was voted South America's Footballer of the Year for the first time at 19.
In 1982 he moved to Europe for FC Barcelona.
"Two years of magic" followed, as the traditional Catalan club wrote in retrospect.
In 1989, Maradona won the UEFA Cup in Italy with SSC Napoli.
"Forever," tweeted Napoli, adding a blue heart.
"Ciao Diego."
Off the field, Maradona kept making headlines because of his drug use and love affairs.
His body weight has now reached life-threatening proportions.
After the end of his professional career, Maradona coached the Argentine national team, Al-Fujairah SC from the United Arab Emirates and the Mexican second division club Dorados Sinaloa.
Last year he finally took over the first division club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in his home country Argentina.
Maradona's supporters also gathered in front of the stadium of his last club on Wednesday to say goodbye.
"We were lucky that fate gave us his last months here with us," said a fan on television.
«I feel great pain.
I still can not believe it."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201126-99-467459 / 4