An aeroplane dedicated to Argentine great Diego Maradona has been unveiled ahead of a journey that will end at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The Tango D10S – a 12-seater aircraft financed by an Argentine FinTech company - is designed as a flying museum in tribute to the former World Cup winner, who died of a heart attack in November 2020.
It features a picture of Maradona kissing the World Cup trophy on the fuselage, while his face is also on the tail.
The wings feature both of his goals from Argentina's 2-1 victory against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final: the “Hand of God” goal on the left wing and the winner, a goal regarded as one of the greatest of all time, on the right.
“I am mad about Maradona, one of those people who still watch videos of Diego before I go to sleep at night,” Gaston Kolker, CEO of FinTech company Give and Get, said.
“This is the first World Cup without Maradona and maybe the last with (Lionel) Messi. I said, I want to make Diego’s plane, I want to make Diego’s plane. And so we launched Tango D10S.
“When Maradona’s teammates saw it, the World Cup winners from 1986, they were amazed, they were hypnotised by the aircraft,” Kolker said at an unveiling with other members from that World Cup winning side on Wednesday in Buenos Aires.
The plan is planned to fly the plane around Argentina and eventually to Qatar for the World Cup in November.
Diego Maradona in pictures
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In this file picture taken on June 29, 1986 Argentina's captain Diego Maradona kisses the World Cup after a 3-2 victory over West Germany at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City. Maradona is self-isolating after one of his bodyguards displayed symptoms of Covid-19. AFP -
In this file picture taken on May 20, 2008 former Argentinian football player Diego Maradona controls the ball as he poses during a photocall for Serbian director Emir Kusturica's film 'Maradona by Kusturica' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. Maradona turns 60 on October 30, 2020. AFP -
In this file picture taken on January 16, 2009 Argentina's national football team coach Diego Maradona laughs during a press conference in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires. AFP -
In this file picture taken on November 29, 2018 Mexican second division football club Dorados' Argentine coach Diego Armando Maradona looks on before a match of the first round of the Final against Atletico San Luis at the Banorte stadium in Culiacan, Sinaloa State, Mexico. AFP -
In this file picture taken on December 1, 2017 Argentina's former footballer Diego Maradona poses on stage ahead of the 2018 World Cup draw at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. AFP -
In this file picture taken on December 15, 2013 Napoli supporters wave a flag bearing a portrait of football legend Argentinian Diego Maradona during the Serie A football match against Inter Milan at San Paolo Stadium in Naples. AFP -
In this file picture taken on May 22, 1986 Argentine football star Diego Maradona, wearing a diamond earring, balances a ball on his head as he walks off the practice field following the national team's practice session in Mexico City. AFP -
In this file picture taken on December 6, 2008 Argentina's national team coach and former football star Diego Armando Maradona gestures as he attends a felicitation programme at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India. AFP -
In this file picture taken on June 16, 2018 Argentina football legend Diego Maradona smokes a cigar as he attends the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Argentina and Iceland at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow. AFP -
In this March 7, 2020 file photo, Gimnasia y Esgrima coach Diego Maradona before a match against Boca Juniors. Reuters -
In this September 8, 2019 file photo, president of Gimnasia y Esgrima Gabriel Pellegrino and Diego Maradona during his presentation as new coach. Reuters -
In this file picture taken on November 6, 2001 former football star Diego Maradona answers questions during a press conference in Buenos Aires. AFP
Fans will be able to board the aircraft and leave a message for Maradona in the cockpit, “interact” with the late player through artificial intelligence, and see memorabilia from him and others players from the 1986 team.
It will also be available for private hire before being auctioned for charity.
“We can’t believe or understand this craziness, the love involved,” Maradona’s daughter Dalma said alongside her sister Giannina at the presentation of the plane. “How far will fans go? As far as a plane.”
Maradona died aged 50 in November 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot.
Widely considered one of the greatest footballers in history, he led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and enjoyed a successful club career that spanned more than 20 years.
After coming through the Argentinos Juniors youth system and playing for the first team for six years, Maradona had spells at Boca Juniors and Barcelona, before a seven-year spell at Napoli in which he transformed the club's fortunes and guided them to their first ever Serie A title in 1987, winning the scudetto again two years later.
Stepping into football management, Maradona had various short-term spells around the world, including with the Argentina national team, whom he led to the 2010 World Cup, and in the UAE, first with Al Wasl and then with Fujairah.
