Thursday 25 November 2021, 15:00

One year without Diego Maradona

  • Today marks the first anniversary of Diego Maradona's passing

  • The world pays tribute to an icon of the game

  • FIFA.com remembers Argentina’s legendary No10

One year ago today, news broke that devastated the world: Diego Armando Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time, had died. Amid disbelief among those who considered him immortal, the premature death of Argentina’s most revered player only enhanced his mythical status among fans of the world’s number one sport. “What Diego has done for football, for making all of us fall in love with this beautiful game, is unique. It is, as he is, simply immense,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at the time. The many tributes that followed his passing not only celebrated the milestones of his unforgettable career, but also contained poignant farewell messages from some of the biggest names in world football.

Despite this tragic loss, the mention of Maradona always brings a smile to lovers of the game. Nowhere was this clearer than in the wonderful tribute paid to him during the The Best FIFA Football Awards 2020™.

His legacy also lives on in the memorable goals he scored at FIFA World Cups™.

In his lifetime, Maradona was frequently a source of inspiration for artists from different fields. With his passing, it comes as no surprise to see some of his most iconic images adorning various public spaces, in the process becoming symbols of his legacy.

On the first anniversary of his death, tributes are once again centre stage, and we bring you some of them now in his memory.