The kid with the trademark hair and the ball dancing around his feet died 44 years after bursting into the world of football at the age of 16. Argentina declared three days of national mourning after the passing of football legend Diego Maradona, and his body lies at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. It is in recognition of the man who became one of the greatest sportsmen and the most famous son of Argentina. He was the king, the number 10 who was the number one. The best of all time.
In a year of significant losses, the world cried at Maradona’s expiry at 60. Latin America cried in the streets. Argentina was devastated. It was a penetrating, wrenching sadness that can’t be described, and the tears roll on and down. We have all lost a part of our lives, say sportscasters fighting knots in their throats.
When news of Maradona’s death reached live programming at around noon Buenos Aires time on Wednesday, ESPN2 was in a panel discussion; three ambulances had been dispatched to the home where Maradona had set his recovery after recent brain surgery.
There was palpable shock in the air that comes across even in replays of the moments when the news gets worse and his death is confirmed. Disbelief. A punch in the gut. A loss of words. Throats that close. Tears that well. Total commotion. “Es un momento de mierda que no se puede creer,” It is a moment of shit news that is impossible to believe — the on-air despair summed up raw, emotional, untarnished.
On the America Network, anchor Guillermo Andino was handed the news live on this show Informados de todo. His eyes reddened as he read the news and his breathing paused. It was heartbreak live, on-air. Buenos Aires cried with him, and as the news spread, so did the rest of Latin America. One of the greatest of our times was dead, and everywhere one could feel that a part of the life we have had was now gone forever and that people felt the need to mourn.
People cried in the streets, in their cars, in waiting rooms, outside the hospital, as his death was announced. “God is dead,” read headlines in Argentina, reflecting the status Maradona had attained in his home country. He was the man who gave Argentina back its pride after the humiliating military defeat in the Falklands by Britain. In the Mexico City World Cup of ’86, he punched a goal and four minutes later scored what even the coach of the opposing team called “the greatest goal of all time”.
Argentina defeated England 2 to 1 in the quarter-finals, unleashing a wave of pride that enveloped all of Latin America. The handball, unnoticed before the era of video, was dubbed “the hand of God,” by Maradona himself, but the legend of the second goal never died. It remains one of the most glorious afternoons in football history. Argentina went on to win the World Cup. A statue of Maradona commemorating the feat was built outside Estadio Azteca.
Following Argentina clubs' homage to the fallen No 10 of football magic with lights left on all night at their stadiums, Mexico’s Estadio Azteca published in its Twitter account its pandemic tribute with a picture of a crown of flowers in its field and the phrase “te vas de la mano de dios” — You leave from the hand of God.
The Mexican legislature held a minute of silence honoring Maradona, “the football genius, who lived his greatest glory here in Mexico, in the World Cup,” in the words of deputy Gerardo Fernández Noroña. The roar of the crowds 34 years ago became pure silence in quiet respect on the occasion of his departure to the hand of God.
“You take something that is ours, you leave us much of you, Diego,” posted Mexico’s Chancellor of Foreign Relations on Twitter. “It was through him that I found grace in that sport,” said Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in a statement.
But the real grief is in the faces and the actions of the fans from the Rio Grande to Tierra del Fuego. “Adiós, Diego!” messages have inundated social media since the announcement of his death, and they come from Tijuana as much as from Tegucigalpa, from San Diego to Sao Paulo to Santiago, from Lima to La Paz to Montevideo and Bogota.
Spontaneous expressions of grief in Buenos Aires have gathered crowds and candles and flowers and game shirts outside the stadium of his former club Boca Juniors and even in just places where fans had the luck of seeing the great player make the ball dance in front of their team.
Horns blew in unison in central Sao Paulo, Brazil in a mournful homage of respect to the man from the neighbouring country who grew bigger than life itself.
Brazil’s own legend, the great Pele, changed his Twitter profile picture to a smiling hug between himself and Diego Maradona, in days the two of them were full of life. “What sad news. I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. There is still much to be said... One day, I hope we can play football together in heaven,” he tweeted a goodbye.
“Maradona was the best Pele of all times,” wrote in Estadão Esportes Brazilian writer Luis Fernando Verissimo, who attended in person the ’86 game when he says he saw Maradona “conquer the World Cup, practically by himself”.
In today’s ubiquitous technology and COVID-laden world, the tornado of tears has turned expressions on Twitter crossing club allegiances, international borders, and even continents, just as admiration for Maradona’s talent had done decades before.
“There are no words to describe this moment, absolute sadness. For me you will be eternal. I adore you forever friend. Rest in peace. Thanks, Diego,” tweeted Argentine tennis great Gabriela Sabatini.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales tweeted a picture of himself with Maradona with a note that said, “With pain in my soul I have learned of the death of my brother. The best football player in the world.”
“You lived like you wanted to, you played like you wanted to, you were a champion and you did not ask anything other than from the ball. You always dominated it. I will always remember you,” wrote former Bolivian national team coach Xabier Azkargorta, who led the Bolivian team in the ’94 World Cup in the United States, which was Maradona’s last.
Every club in Latin America and the world is saying goodbye. “Adiós compañero”, “In the Hands of God”, “God is in heaven,” read tributes of respect to the man who has inspired so many of their clubs and their players.
The Cuban foreign relations office expressed the sadness of the Cuban people and noted that his death came on the same day as the death of Fidel Castro, with whom Maradona had developed a close relationship.
Fellow Argentinian Pope Francis issued a statement in the Vatican news site noting that he remembers him dearly and with affection. The Uruguayan daily ‘El Observador’ paid its respects and admiration to Maradona recalling a question that was posed to him by reporter Víctor Hugo Morales in which he asked Maradona “What planet did you come from?” a wink to his out-of-this-world talent.
In Buenos Aires, Thursday crowds are filing past the Argentinian flag-draped coffin that displays his #10 game shirts of his club Boca Juniors and the Argentinian national team. Even fans of rival teams like River Plate, Racing, San Lorenzo, Independiente are coming in prayer, in joy, in admiration, singing quiet songs, holding Maradona’s picture, sometimes applauding, some throw games shirts and flowers their hero’s way in grieving thanks.
“You made us immensely happy,” wrote Argentinian President Alberto Fernández.”You took us to the highest highs in this world. You were the greatest. Thanks for having lived, Diego.”
“Te vamos a extrañar toda la vida, Diego!” is the message in his club’s social pages — We will miss you all our lives, Diego!
