Diego Maradona, star footballer for Argentina and Napoli, dies aged 60

02:27

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.

Diego Maradona became the second Argentinian to captain his country to World Cup victory in 1986./AFP

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.

Maradona's ability to mesmerize defenders led to many labeling him one of the greatest players of all time./AFP

Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius

- Cristiano Ronaldo, five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or

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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.

His two goals that beat England in the quarter-finals that summer in Mexico possibly summed up the duality of his nature, to the public at least – one, a masterpiece of solo brilliance, control and balance. The other a handball, a foul that Maradona would later famously call "The Hand of God" and for which he was labelled a cheat.

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?

Maradona developed a close friendship with the late President of Cuba, Fidel Castro describing him as a 'second father.'/AFP

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.