Football legend paces away: Classic Diego Maradona moments

Diego Maradona was instrumental in taking Argentina to their second World Cup triumph in 1986, captaining the team that prevailed over West Germany in the final under the stewardship of Carlos Bilardo. (FILE)

Argentina’s Diego Maradona scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986. (Source: AP)

Diego Maradona's goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal remains one of the most controversial moments in football. (File)

Argentina great Diego Maradona appeared to need assistance to walk at a match in which his national team beat Nigeria at the World Cup on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters)

Diego Maradona shouting instructions to his players. (Source: AP)

Argentina great Diego Maradona was honoured by a statue with a bronze sculpture, which unveiled at a club in Kolkata. The 1986 World Cup winner was in the 'City of Joy' to play a football match against former India skipper Sourav Ganguly. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Three week ago Diego Maradona was admitted to hospital for surgery on a blood clot in his brain, before being discharged to recover at home. (FILE)

In 1991, the year Diego Maradona left the club, he was given a 15-month suspension for drug violations. (FILE)

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona made a much-awaited trip to the 'City of Joy' Kolkata. But the 1986 FIFA World Cup winner skipped the much-hyped match against former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly was not happy as the left-handed batsman missed out an opportunity of playing with his childhood icon. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Diego Maradona spent time with young footballers and helped them improve their techniques. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

While Diego Maradona didn't feature in the complete match, Sourav Ganguly played for both the sides, first turning up in whites and then slipping on to a blue jersey. Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary, seamer Shib Shankar Paul were also the part of the match. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

In his response, Sourav Ganguly said, "It would have been great to have played with him but he could not play. Age has caught up with him but he's too good a player. I'm a huge, huge fan of his, I have seen him win the World Cup in 1986. It was a treat to see him from close quarters." (Express photo by Partha Paul)

The Argentina No.10 scored twice to take down England in a 2-1 victory, the first goal scored with his infamous 'Hand of God' and the second after dribbling around several opponents in what would soon be dubbed the 'Goal of the Century'. (FILE)

Maradona began his professional career with Argentinos Juniors at the age of 16 and went on to be considered one of the greatest players ever to step onto a football field. (Express Archive)

Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time on the pitch, his life off the pitch was equally notorious - amid battles with drug and alcohol addiction.

Maradona and Messi are the biggest players to emerge out of Argentina