We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out: Football fraternity reacts to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona's death

Former Brazilian retired professional footballer Pelé said, "For sure, one day we will kick a ball together in heaven."

File Photo (Reuters)

Buenos Aires: Argentine football legend Diego Maradona passed away on Wednesday (November 25, 2020) aged 60, reportedly due to a heart attack.

Following Diego Armando Maradona's death, several reactions poured in from the football fraternity for the legend who is most fondly remembered for winning the 1986 World Cup for Argentina 

Former Brazilian retired professional footballer Pelé mourned the death of Diego Maradona and expressed his grief. Pele said, "Sad news to lose a friend like that. May God give enough strength to his family. For sure, one day we will kick a ball together in heaven."

Que notícia triste. Eu perdi um grande amigo e o mundo perdeu uma lenda. Ainda há muito a ser dito, mas por agora, que Deus dê força para os familiares. Um dia, eu espero que possamos jogar bola juntos no céu. pic.twitter.com/6Li76HTikA — Pelé (@Pele) November 25, 2020

"One of the best ever. An unparalleled magician," wrote Cristiano Ronaldo and shared a picture with Maradona.

Hoje despeço-me de um amigo e o Mundo despede-se de um génio eterno. Um dos melhores de todos os tempos. Um mágico inigualável. Parte demasiado cedo, mas deixa um legado sem limites e um vazio que jamais será preenchido. Descansa em paz, craque. Nunca serás esquecido. pic.twitter.com/WTS21uxmdL — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 25, 2020

Ex-England football player Gary Lineker wrote, "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. #RipDiego"

Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. 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. #RipDiego — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 25, 2020

"Argentina`s football association, through its president Claudio Tapia, shares its deepest pain over the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona. You will always be in our hearts," said Argentina's football association.

Former Argentina international and World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles said, "Thank dear Dieguito for your friendship, for your football, sublime, without comparison. Simply, the best football player in the history of football. So many enjoyable moments together. Impossible to say which one was the best. RIP my dear friend."

Thank dear Dieguito for your friendship, for your footbal, sublime, without comparison. Simply, the best football player in the history of football. So many enjoyable moments together. Impossible to say which one was the best. RIP my dear friend. https://t.co/1xshiEZQVh — osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) November 25, 2020

Diego playing for us 1986. What a night! RIP Dieguito. pic.twitter.com/28qP6Z4At3 — osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) November 25, 2020

"A devastating blow for both city and club. We are in mourning. We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out. We are in shock," Reuters quoted the Italian football club Napoli where Maradona played from 1984-1991.

"Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego," Napoli tweeted.

The world awaits our words but there are no words to describe the pain we're going through. Now is the time to grieve.
Diego  pic.twitter.com/40TTOIDNQ4 — Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 25, 2020

Always in our hearts

Ciao, Diego pic.twitter.com/I2gTWqdtdB

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 25, 2020

Numerous other football players also expressed their grief over the death of Maradona.

Privileged to have met him. Very sad news. RIP Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/x2LcIeQPqr — Harry Kane (@HKane) November 25, 2020

A fearless genius on the pitch who changed the game. RIP Maradona pic.twitter.com/YMAO2tR466

— Michail Antonio (@Michailantonio) November 25, 2020

In the 1986 World Cup for Argentina, Maradona scored, arguably, two of the most famous goals in football history in the quarter-finals against England.

The first goal, popularly known as the 'Hand of God', where he slotted the ball into the net with his bare hand while the second goal, scored just four minutes later, was quite the opposite. The diminutive Maradona single-handedly dribbled through the whole English defence and then scored past goalkeeper Peter Shilton, leaving everyone in the stadium gasping for breath.  That goal, to this day, is widely considered to be the greatest goal ever scored on the football pitch.