Guinness World Records are saddened to hear that football legend Diego Maradona (Argentina) has passed away aged 60.
He suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires, according to reports.
Maradona enjoyed a record-breaking sporting career and remains one of the most iconic footballers of all time – to some the best player ever.
His first Guinness World Records title came in 1978 while playing for the Argentinos Juniors as the youngest top goal scorer in the Primera División.
He scored 21 goals during the 1978 Metropolitano Championship and was aged 17 years 364 days at the conclusion of the final round of games on 29 October.
He shared the award with Quilmes's Luis Andreuchi, who also scored 21 goals.
He went on to break the records for the most football (soccer) FIFA World Cup appearances as captain and the most goals scored in the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup as captain.
Maradona appeared as captain in 16 World Cup finals from 1982 to 1994 and scored a total of 6 goals between 1986 to 1994.
Maradona scored his first goal as captain in the 1986 World Cup against Italy before scoring 2 vs England in the Quarter Finals and 2 vs Belgium in the Semi Finals.
His goals against England in the 1986 Quarter Finals have gone down in history as two of the most famous goals of all time – and they occurred during the same match!
The first goal was described as the “Hand of God” by Maradona himself, but controversially it was technically a handball that some think he should have received a yellow card for.
His second goal, scored just four minutes after his first, is often referred to as the "Goal of the Century" as it saw him dribble past five England players before scoring: Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid (twice), Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick, and goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
He failed to score in the 1990 World Cup but was on target in the 1994 tournament against Greece, scoring his last ever goal for the national side.
The record for most goals scored in the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup as captain has now been equalled by England captain Harry Kane.
As well as impacting football at the top of its game, his moves filtered down from pitches to playgrounds.
The famous 360° spin he pioneered while dribbling the ball is now synonymous with the player.
He also inspired the freestyle move the Maradona 7, which has led to record titles such as the fastest time to complete 10 Maradona seven football (soccer) tricks.
This trick involves juggling the ball between both feet, knees and shoulders, before finishing with a header.
It's clear that Maradona will have a lasting impact on football for years to come as well as being forever immortalised in the record books.
