A Greek artist and football fan in the Kalamaria neighborhood of Thessaloniki has created a magnificent work of art in honor of the late Diego Maradona.
The realistic mural, created on the wall of the local football ground, is another tribute to a beloved man who was arguably the greatest player in the history of the game.
The 60-year-old football icon died of a heart attack at his home where he was recuperating from a series of cardiac events. The footballing world has been in mourning following his death, not least in Naples and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was laid to rest last Thursday.
In Argentina, murals paying tribute to Maradona playing for the national team as well other clubs he represented in his home country, such as Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys, can be found all over the land.
Former Tottenham midfielder Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, said he was “a god” in Argentina, in Naples and all around the world.
“He will be remembered as a genius in football,” he added in a BBC interview. “You can see the extraordinary amount of interest that he generates.
“People like (Juventus and Portugal striker) Ronaldo, or people like (Barcelona and Argentina forward) Messi, they couldn’t even dream of having this kind of admiration.
“That was the Maradona phenomenon — all the time.”
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