Diego Maradona, 1986 World Cup hero idolized as 'Golden Boy' in a soccer-mad Argentina

Diego Maradona, Argentine soccer great who was among best players ever and who led his country to 1986 World Cup title before later struggling with cocaine use and obesity, has died. He was 60.

office of Argentina's president will decree three days of national mourning because of Maradona's death on Wednesday, and Argentine soccer association expressed its sorrow on Twitter. Maradona died two weeks after being released from a Bues Aires hospital following brain surgery.

Famed for “Hand of God” goal in which he punched ball into England’s net during 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, Maradona captivated fans over a two-decade career with a bewitching style of play that was all his own.

Although his reputation was tarnished by his addictions and an ill-fated spell in charge of national team, he remained idolized in soccer-mad Argentina as “Pibe de Oro” or “Golden Boy.”

. 10 he wore on his jersey became synymous with him, as it also had with Pele, Brazilian great with whom Maradona was regularly paired as best of all time.

Bold, fast and utterly unpredictable, Maradona was a master of attack, juggling ball easily from one foot to or as he raced upfield. Dodging and weaving with his low center of gravity, he shrugged off countless rivals and often scored with a devastating left foot, his most powerful weapon.

“Everything he was thinking in his head, he made it happen with his feet,” said Salvatore Bagni, who played with Maradona at Italian club Napoli.

A ballooning waistline slowed Maradona’s explosive speed later in his career and by 1991 he was snared in his first doping scandal when he admitted to a cocaine habit that haunted him until he retired in 1997, at 37.

Hospitalized near death in 2000 and again in ’04 for heart problems blamed on cocaine, he later said he overcame drug problem. Cocaine, he once said famously, had proven to be his “toughest rival.”

But more health problems followed, despite a 2005 gastric bypass that greatly trimmed his weight. Maradona was hospitalized in early 2007 for acute hepatitis that his doctor blamed on excessive drinking and eating.

He made an unlikely return to national team in 2008 when he was appointed Argentina coach, but after a quarterfinal exit at 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he was ousted — ultimately picking up ar coaching job with United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl.

Maradona was fifth of eight children who grew up in a poor, gritty barrio on Bues Aires outskirts where he played a kind of dirt-patch soccer that launched many Argentines to international stardom.

ne of m approached Maradona’s fame. In 2001, FIFA named Maradona one of two greatest in sport’s history, alongside Pele.

“Maradona inspires us,” said n-Argentina striker Carlos Tevez, explaining his country’s everyman fascination with Maradona at 2006 World Cup in Germany. “He’s our idol, and an idol for people.”

Maradona reaped titles at home and abroad, playing in early 1980s for Argentis Juniors and Boca Juniors before moving on to Spanish and Italian clubs. His crowning achievement came at 1986 World Cup, captaining Argentina in its 3-2 win over West Germany in final and decisive in a 2-1 victory against England in a feisty quarterfinal match.

Over protests of England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, referee let stand a goal by Maradona in which, as he admitted years later, he intentionally hit ball with his hand in “a bit of mischief.”

But Maradona’s impact wouldn’t be confined to cheating. Four minutes later, he spectacularly weaved past four opponents from midfield to beat Shilton for what FIFA later declared greatest goal in World Cup history.

Many Argentines saw match as revenge for ir country’s loss to Britain in 1982 war over Falkland Islands, which Argentines still claim as “Las Malvinas.” “It was our way of recovering ‘Las Malvinas,’” Maradona wrote in his 2000 autobiography “I am Diego.”

“It was more than trying to win a game. We said game had thing to do with war. But we knew that Argentines had died re, that y had killed m like birds. And this was our revenge. It was something bigger than us: We were defending our flag.”

It also was vindication for Maradona, who in what he later called “ greatest trdy” of his career was cut from squad of 1978 World Cup — which Argentina won at home — because he was only 17.

Maradona said he was given a soccer ball soon after he could run. “I was 3 years old and I slept hugging that ball all night,” he said.

At 10, Maradona gained fame by performing at halftime of professional matches, wowing crowds by keeping ball airborne for minutes with his feet, chest and head. He also made his playing debut with Argentis Juniors youth team, leading a squad of mostly 14-year-olds through 136 unbeaten matches.

“To see him play was pure bliss, true stardom,” teammate Carlos Beltran said. Maradona played from 1976-81 for first division club Argentis Juniors, n went to Boca Juniors for a year before heading to Barcelona for a world-record $8 million.

In 1984, Barcelona sold him to Napoli, in Italy. He remade its fortunes almost single-handedly, taking it to 1987 Italian league championship for its first title in 60 years.

A year after losing 1990 World Cup final to West Germany, Maradona moved to Spanish club Sevilla, but his career was on decline. He played five matches at Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys in 1994 before returning to Boca from 1995-97 — his final club and closest to his heart. Drug problems overshadowed his final playing years.

Maradona failed a doping test in 1991 and was banned for 15 months, ackwledging his longtime cocaine addiction. He failed ar doping test for stimulants and was thrown out of 1994 World Cup in United States.

In retirement, Maradona frequented Boca matches as a raucous one-man cheering section and took part in worldwide charity, sporting and exhibition events. But already stocky forward quickly gained weight and was clearly short of breath as he huffed through friendly matches.

In 2000, in what doctors said was a brush with death, he was hospitalized in Uruguayan resort of Punta del Este with a heart that doctors said was pumping at less than half its capacity. Blood and urine samples turned up traces of cocaine.

After ar emergency hospitalization in 2004, Maradona was counseled for drug abuse and in September of that year traveled to Cuba for treatment at Havana’s Center for Mental Health. re he was visited by his friend, Cuban President Fidel Castro.

In Cuba, Maradona took to playing golf and smoking cigars. He frequently praised Castro and Argentine-born revolutionary “Che” Guevara, who fought with Castro in Cuban revolution — even sporting a tattoo of Guevara on his right arm. Maradona said he got clean from drugs re and started a new chapter.

In 2005, he underwent gastric bypass in Colombia, shedding nearly 50 kilograms (more than 100 pounds) before appearing as host of a wildly popular Argentine television talk show. On “10’s Night,” Maradona headed around a ball with Pele, interviewed boxer Mike Tyson and Hollywood celebrities, and taped a lengthy conversation with Castro in Cuba.

In retirement, Maradona also became more outspoken. He sniped frequently at former coaches, players — including Pele — and pope. He joined a left-wing protest train outside Summit of Americas in 2005, standing alongside Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to deunce presence of n-President George W. Bush.

His outsider status made it all more surprising when he was chosen as Argentina coach following Alfio Basile’s resignation.

He won his first three matches but his tactics, selection and attention to detail were all questioned after a 6-1 loss to Bolivia in World Cup qualifying equalled Argentina’s worst-ever margin of defeat.

Victor Hugo Morales, Argentina’s most popular soccer broadcaster, said Maradona will ultimately be remembered for a thrilling style of play that has never been duplicated.

“He has been one of great artists of my time. Like great masters of music and painting, he has defied our intellect and enriched human spirit,” Morales said. “body has thrilled me more and left me in such awe as Diego."