Diego Maradona, Argentina Soccer Icon, Dies
Diego Maradona, who is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players — if not the greatest — of all time, has died. He was 60.
According to multiple reports, Maradona suffered a heart attack Wednesday at his home in Tigre, a city north of Buenos Aires. He was at home recovering from brain surgery he underwent this month to remove a blood clot on his brain.
The decorated Argentinian athlete had a career to remember, being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year four times and leading Argentina to a World Cup win over England in 1986.
Maradona — who famously wore the No. 10, which is reserved by teams for their best player — was a longtime Puma ambassador, and wore the boot on the pitch laced up by legends: the Puma King.
“The best players in the world, the players that wore the number 10, players that really made the difference, wore the King,” Puma senior marketing advisor Helmut Fischer told FN in 2018. “Pelé, Eusébio in the ’60s, Johan Cruyff from the ’70s, Diego Maradona — the very best [soccer] players in the world all wore the Puma King.”
With news of his death, Puma CEO Björn Gulden shared a tribute on his personal Instagram account. “RIP Diego. The best player I have ever seen!” the executive wrote.
The brand also emailed FN a statement on Maradona’s passing.
“Diego Maradona was one of the greatest players of all time. We are honored that he chose to work with Puma for the entirety of his career and beyond. As a member of our Puma family, we are deeply saddened by the news of his death. Our thoughts are with his family and fans of great football around the world,” the company wrote.
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