‘God is dead’: Europe’s papers pay moving tributes to Diego Maradona with the world of football in mourning after the death of the Argentina icon
The world of football is in mourning after the death of Argentina icon Diego Maradona at the age of 60 from a heart attack.
The European football community will awake on Thursday to find an array of glorious tributes to Maradona, who played in both Spain and Italy with Barcelona and Napoli respectively, splashed across the front and back pages of the continent’s newspapers.
But it is arguably France’s L’Equipe that has the most powerful front page on Thursday – a picture of Maradona stood proudly in an Argentina shirt with the headline: ‘God is dead’.
L’Equipe’s front page on Thursday pays tribute to Maradona with ‘God is dead’ on the front
Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy lead with the powerful headline of ‘I saw Maradona’ alongside a picture of him kissing the World Cup trophy after winning the final at Mexico ’86
Tuttosport pay tribute to Maradona’s No 10 shirt as Corriere dello Sport say ‘Diego Lives’
Maradona’s touch, speed and poise was a fabulous combination on the pitch and propelled him from the slums of Buenos Aires to timeless stardom through the world of football.
The unplayable level that he reached as he spearheaded Argentina’s surge to 1986 World Cup glory in Mexico is most prominently remembered.
The Italian papers, in the country where he also thrived with Napoli, mainly lead with pictures of him in the blue and white of his country.
La Gazzetta dello Sport, with a picture of Maradona kissing the iconic World Cup trophy in 86, say: ‘I saw Maradona’.
Tuttosport have the picture of him being carried on the shoulders of his team-mates in the immediate aftermath of his World Cup triumph at the Aztec stadium, with the headline: ‘AD10S’, referencing the No 10 shirt that became synonymous with his career.
Corrierre dello Sport have a picture of Maradona in his Napoli days under the headline ‘Diego Lives’.
In Spain, the tributes to Argentina are just as gracious. Marca runs a powerful quote of Maradona reflecting on his life on its front page, which says: ‘If I die I want to be born again and I want to be a footballer.
Marca lead with a moving quote from Maradona reflecting on the success in his life
Mundo Deportivo (left) say all sport mourns Maradona as Sport say ‘God is already in heaven’
AS’s front page read ‘D10S Ha Muerto’ with a picture of Maradona in front of the sun
And I want to be Diego Armando Maradona again. I am a player who has brought joy to the people and that is enough for me.’
Mundo Deportivo – the Barcelona based publication – also run with an ‘AD10S’ style headline and say all of sport, not just football, is mourning his death.
AS’s front page read ‘D10S Ha Muerto’ with a picture of Maradona wearing an Argentina shirt while stood in front of the sun.
Sport use the same picture as Tuttosport in Italy but with the headline: ‘God is already in heaven.’
