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Soccer icon and World Cup winner Maradona dies

Soccer World Cup winner and one of the sport's biggest icons Diego Maradona died on Wednesday (November 25)

He suffered a heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, less than a month after his 60th birthday and just weeks after brain surgery.

Maradona is described by many as the best ever soccer player. His greatest achievement came at the 1986 World Cup, where he was instrumental in Argentina's eventual victory.

In the quarter-final against England he scored two of the most famous goals of all time.

First came the notorious ‘hand of God’, where he punched the ball into the net, followed by a sublime solo-dribbling effort past most of the opposition before hitting the target.

But his career also suffered tremendous lows, starting with defeat in the final of the 1990 World Cup. That was followed by a failed drug test at the tournament four years later in the United States, when Maradona was ultimately sent home in disgrace.

Years of drug use, overeating and alcoholism punctuated his stellar career. He nearly died of cocaine-induced heart failure in 2000.

Maradona’s club career saw him win trophies in his native Argentina with Boca Juniors, in Spain with Barcelona and most famously in Italy with Napoli, where he is still held in great affection.

He also edged out his great Brazilian rival Pele... to be named FIFA’s player of the century.