Diego Maradona is dead: grief has many faces

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1/17

Diego Armando Maradona died of cardiac arrest on November 25th.

Fans around the world mourn the loss of perhaps the greatest footballer in history.

Farewell pictures.

Photo: 

STRINGER / REUTERS

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2/17

Maradona mastered the ball like no other, he inspired people all over the world like no other.

But nowhere did they love Maradona as much as in Argentina or Naples.

Although he played his last game for the SSC in March 1991, he is still more present in town than most active professionals.

A Maradona fan waves to a Maradona picture in the streets of Naples: Take care, Diego!

Photo: 

Alessandro Garofalo / AP

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3/17

Maradona wasn't as successful as a coach as he was as a player, but every club that could hire him was mighty proud of it.

Diego Maradona, that was an event, even on the sidelines.

Most recently, he coached the Argentine club Gimnasia de La Plata.

A fan wrapped in a Maradona flag mourns at the stadium.

Photo: 

Maria Paula Avila / AP

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4/17

The news of Maradona's death was still young when hundreds of people gathered in the streets of Buenos Aires.

They wanted to mourn their number 10 together.

Photo: 

Juan Ignacio Roncoroni / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

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5/17

Boca Juniors fans celebrated Maradona in the Argentine capital.

In 1981 he won the championship with Boca, but what is a title in relation to the legacy as the greatest player in the club's history?

Photo: 

Fernando Gens / dpa

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6/17

For some fans, the love for Diego Maradona got under their skin.

Photo: 

Tomas Cuesta / Getty Images

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7/17

Maradona was not an infallible, aloof star.

But on the contrary.

Maradona had drug problems and had some life crises.

But his fans suffered with him, felt connected to him.

It also explains why so many people are so upset by Maradona's death.

Photo: 

AGUSTIN MARCARIAN / REUTERS

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8/17

That night, Maradona's body was taken to the undertaker.

People in Buenos Aires were waiting on the street to be able to be close to Maradona again.

The fans of Boca Juniors and River Plate don't get along very well, but in their grief they stuck together.

Photo: 

Marcos Brindicci / AP

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9/17

On Thursday, mourners gathered at Casa Rosada, the pink presidential palace in Argentina's capital.

Thousands, the government reckons with a million, want to say goodbye to their idol laid out there.

Photo: 

JUAN IGNACIO RONCORONI / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

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10/17

On the balcony of the presidential palace, Maradona celebrated herself as world champion in 1986, but also allowed herself to be comforted in 1990 after the lost final against Germany.

Photo: 

JUAN IGNACIO RONCORONI / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

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11/17

In the south of Italy, including Naples, many people are very religious.

They light candles for their deceased.

For Diego Maradona it had to be torches.

Photo: 

Fabio Sasso / AP

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12/17

Yes, with Boca Juniors Maradona had won his first Argentine championship.

But perhaps even more important to him were the Argentinos Juniors.

Here in Buenos Aires Maradona made his professional debut and was multiple top scorer.

Argentinos fans gathered at their home ground, the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, on Wednesday evening.

Photo: 

Getty Images

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13/17

The fans stood by the fence as if they could see Maradona play again.

Photo: 

Juan Ignacio Roncoroni / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

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14/17

In the La Paternal district, Argentinos fans erected an improvised altar.

Photo: 

ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP

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15/17

All fans had their personal Maradona memorabilia with them that evening.

Photo: 

Juan Ignacio Roncoroni / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

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16/17

Practically single-handedly, Diego Maradona shot Argentina for the 1986 World Cup.

Of course, many fans took their old national team jerseys out of the closet to mourn on the street.

Photo: 

RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP

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17/17

A father takes his daughter in his arms.

Even people who no longer saw Maradona play became aware of its importance in the face of global grief.

Photo: 

RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP

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