Diego Maradona once described Dubai as his "second home".
The Argentine football legend, who died on Wednesday at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack, was a resident of the emirate for nearly a decade.
He arrived in the UAE in 2011 as Al Wasl manager and after his departure from the club, was appointed as an ambassador by the Dubai Sports Council.
In his ambassadorial role, Maradona was seen at numerous sports events around the country, leaving fans and athletes starstruck in his presence.
He famously hit balls with tennis player, and fellow Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, attended cycling's Dubai Tour where riders clamoured for selfies, made an appearance at the squash PSA Dubai World Series Finals, and even climbed inside an XCAT Powerboat.
While he will forever be remembered for his greatness on a football pitch, Maradona's impact on the Dubai sports landscape extended even further.
Diego Maradona 1960-2020
The photo gallery above looks at some of his most memorable moments as Dubai Sports Council Ambassador. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.
