"One day, I hope we can play football together in the sky," said Pele while paying his tribute to another football legend and all-time great Diego Maradona who died Wednesday at the age of 60.
The 80-year-old Brazilian, also a three-time World Cup winner, took to Twitter to remember Argentina soccer great Maradona.
"Sad news today. I have lost a dear friend, and the world has lost a legend. There is much more to say, but for now may God give his family strength. One day, I hope, we will play soccer together in the sky," wrote the Brazil great Pele.
Over the past many decades, from polls to fantasy leagues, the legendary duo has been pitted against each other. At the start of the millennium, FIFA had announced that both deserved the honour – the Brazilian was voted number one by the readers of FIFA Magazine and the FIFA Football Committee, whereas the Argentinan topped the poll on the fifa website.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Boca Juniors illuminated Diego Maradona's suite box at the iconic La Bombonera last night.</p>
Only one light shined last night. Unbelievable photos. ?? <a href="https://t.co/eGrqyr7y27">pic.twitter.com/eGrqyr7y27</a>
— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) <a href="https://twitter.com/FutbolBible/status/1331862754886488066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Pele and Maradona – two players who wore the number 10 shirt. But that is where the similarity ends. The Brazilian and the Argentinan were totally different footballers and are totally different people. Here Pele, the striker whose territory was the penalty box, a player who scored goals for fun and became Minister of Sport, more your quiet type of person. There Maradona, possibly the most complete player ever, playmaker and goalscorer, technically brilliant, unpredictable and impulsive, both on and off the field, a player plagued by a variety of problems for many years," the soccer's world governing body explained.
The rivalry has ended, forever.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaradonaEterno?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaradonaEterno</a> ⚽? <a href="https://t.co/t87RhkmWb4">pic.twitter.com/t87RhkmWb4</a></p>
— Arsenal Fútbol Club (@ArsenalOficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArsenalOficial/status/1331765360559857664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Tributes continue to pour in from all corners of the globe for the greatest footballer of all time – fans remembering Maradona's 'hand of God' and 'goal of century' from the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina and also how he made us all fall in love with the beautiful game.
Incidentally, Maradona passed away four years to the date of the passing of Cuban revolutionary and leader Fidel Castro – a man he regarded as a 'second father'. The great footballer even proudly flaunted tattoos of Castro and Venezuelan politician Hugo Chavez on his leg and arm.
George Best, another great player the game saw, had also died on November 25.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tragic news. Legendary Argentine football/soccer player Diego Maradona has died at age 60.<br><br>Maradona was a revolutionary and committed anti-imperialist.<br><br>He was a friend of Castro and Hugo Chávez (with tattoos of Fidel and Che), and a champion of the poor and oppressed. <a href="https://t.co/TxeEQAnUlp">pic.twitter.com/TxeEQAnUlp</a></p>— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1331643407379410944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Diego may be eternal now, but for forever, Diego will also have a most prominent place in the incredible story of all football fairy tales. Diego deserves our eternal gratitude for that, for having amazed us with his incredible talent and yes, for having been so unique: for having been Diego Armando Maradona, a legend, a hero, and… a man,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said while paying his personal tribute.
Ole, an Argentine national daily sports newspaper published in Buenos Aires, put up an illustration showing Maradona returning the 'hand of God' to its original owner.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Simplemente sensacional ? <a href="https://t.co/7IcyGGpqUe">pic.twitter.com/7IcyGGpqUe</a></p>
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) <a href="https://twitter.com/DiarioOle/status/1331689818808520711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"RIP Diego Maradona, a legend. My Argentine friends never let me forget he was of Boca! His goals in the 1986 World Cup match vs England symbolized his life, the lowest low with the Hand of God and the highest high with the Goal of the Century!" tweeted Chess legend Gary Kasparov.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">? – Hampden Park, 1979.</p>
An 18 year old Diego Maradona announces his arrival as the world’s greatest player ?? <a href="https://t.co/w5pnOwRDY7">pic.twitter.com/w5pnOwRDY7</a>
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/MirrorFootball/status/1331871869448884224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Closer home, in football-mad Kolkata, Maradona had created quite a buzz after landing in December 2017 to play an exhibition match also featuring former Indian cricket skipper and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly. Maradona skipped the game due to a hand injury but Kolkata remembers him fondly.
"My hero no more ..my mad genius rest in peace…I watched football for you," tweeted Ganguly along with his photograph with the Argentinian legend.
Kerala, a state which Maradona had visited back in 2012, has announced a two-day state mourning.
Some reactions:
“A very sad day for all Argentinians and for football. He leaves us, but he is not gone because Diego is eternal. I stay with all the beautiful moments I lived with him and I wanted to send my condolences to his family and friends." — Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
“Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius. One of the best ever. An unrivaled magician. He departs too soon, but leaves a legacy with no limits and an emptiness that will never be filled.” — Portugal and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
“You will always be in our memory, you left your legacy. Soccer thanks you.” — Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">RIP to legend <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maradona?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maradona</a> ?? <a href="https://t.co/U9KdyRhGBE">pic.twitter.com/U9KdyRhGBE</a></p>
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) <a href="https://twitter.com/usainbolt/status/1331641900022042624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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“My friend is gone. Maradona, the legend! The Argentine that conquered the world with the ball at his feet, but also for his joy and unique personality. I said it sometimes, out of the players I have seen on the pitch he was the best.” — former Brazil forward Romario.
“By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God." — former England striker Gary Lineker.
"I’m proud to have been able to experience him up close on the pitch. Diego Maradona won everything there is to win, as well as the hearts of everyone who loves the beauty of football.” — former West Germany forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Partout dans le monde, un visage, un maillot, un numéro ! 60 unes d'hommage à Diego Maradona. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maradona?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maradona</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FrontPage?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FrontPage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/maradona10?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#maradona10</a> <a href="https://t.co/tckpWKaElC">pic.twitter.com/tckpWKaElC</a></p>
— Cyril Petit (@CyrilPetit) <a href="https://twitter.com/CyrilPetit/status/1331858928058118145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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“He had everything technically: Left foot, control, shooting, and he was also very lively. To avoid the assassins (on the field) in the 1970s and 80s you were better off being very, very lively, and he was a dribbler, too. He would dribble, dribble, dribble.” — former France great Michel Platini.
“The world lost one of the greatest soccer players that ever lived Diego Maradona. It was one of the thrills of my life when I got to meet him." — Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson.
“Football and the world of sports has lost one of its greatest players today.” — India cricket great Sachin Tendulkar..
