Argentine football legend Diego Maradona will be buried Thursday on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, a spokesman said.
Maradona, who died of a heart attack Wednesday at the age of 60, will be laid to rest in the Jardin de Paz cemetery, where his parents were also buried, Sebastian Sanchi told AFP.
Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time, died on Wednesday, November 26 at the age of 60, plunging his sport and his native Argentina into mourning.
Renowned along with Pele as one of the greatest players ever to play the game, the Argentine World Cup-winning captain died of a heart attack, having undergone brain surgery earlier this month, a member of his entourage told AFP.
Maradona will forever be known for his โHand of godโ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico when he appeared to use his hand to push the ball into the net before later swerving through the English defenders for a memorable second goal that sealed the victory.
Pele saidย Maradonaย had been a โdear friendโ and said he hoped they would โplay together in the skyโ one day.
Gary Lineker, who was in the England team defeated in 1986, tweeted that Maradona was โarguably the greatest of all timeโ but made a reference to that infamous goal by adding: โAfter a blessed but troubled life, hopefully, heโll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiegoโ
Lionel Messi, the Argentine considered one of the worldโs greatest modern-day players, saidย Maradonaย was โeternalโ.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez immediately announced three days of national mourning in the South American country.
AFP
