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Diego Maradona has died of a suspected heart attack. /AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Argentina soccer star Diego Maradona has died aged 60, according to his lawyer Matias Morla. It is thought the former international captain and World Cup winner suffered a heart attack at his home.
Maradona had recently been operated on after a blood clot was discovered on his brain, the latest in a series of health scares that have threatened to take his life. It's thought the surgery earlier in November was successful.
Fans devotion to 'El 10' is clear to see. /Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1960, he quickly rose to prominence, making his professional soccer debut 10 days before his 16th birthday. He went on to win Argentine soccer's top division with Boca Juniors, before being thrust on to the world stage when he signed for Spain's Barcelona in 1982.
Maradona was an instant hit in Europe and was snapped up by a struggling Napoli team in 1984. On his arrival, he was proclaimed "The Saviour" by supporters and they were right as he led the team to a first league title and the UEFA Cup.
The peak of the diminutive striker's career was the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when his often match-winning performances took Argentina to the final against West Germany. His team won and Diego Armando Maradona became only the second Argentina captain to lift the World Cup for his country.
Sadly, the latter part of his career was marred by injury and problems with drug addiction, leading to a 15-month ban from the sport in 1990. He eventually retired from the game at the age of 37, while back at his hometown club Boca Juniors.
Despite his troubles, his ability with a ball has ensured he will be remembered as one of soccer's greatest players. With arguments raging over the decades about who was the best ever, Maradona or Brazil's Pele?
Many years after he finished playing, Diego Maradona was still a hero in Naples, where he played for seven years. /AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
After his playing days ended, he had several spells coaching teams, most notably taking Argentina to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup.
His physical health deteriorated rapidly as he grew older, leading to a series of heart problems that led to regular spells in hospital.
He leaves behind five children – two sons and three daughters.
