• Diego Maradona thrilled the crowd at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in 2013 when he took to Centre Court to hit a few balls with fellow Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. EPA
    Diego Maradona thrilled the crowd at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in 2013 when he took to Centre Court to hit a few balls with fellow Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. EPA
  • Diego Maradona and Juan Martin Del Potro have a conversation at the net during the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Del Potro was among the thousands of people to pay tribute to Maradona when he wrote on social media: "For me you will never die." Reuters
    Diego Maradona and Juan Martin Del Potro have a conversation at the net during the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Del Potro was among the thousands of people to pay tribute to Maradona when he wrote on social media: "For me you will never die." Reuters
  • Diego Maradona met women's tennis star Caroline Wozniacki during the 2013 WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. They exchanged gifts, with Wozniacki presenting Maradona with a tennis racquet while receiving a signed Argentina shirt featuring the famous 'Maradona 10'. Getty Images
    Diego Maradona met women's tennis star Caroline Wozniacki during the 2013 WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. They exchanged gifts, with Wozniacki presenting Maradona with a tennis racquet while receiving a signed Argentina shirt featuring the famous 'Maradona 10'. Getty Images
  • Diego Maradona and Caroline Wozniacki also posed for selfies during their meeting at the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. Getty Images
    Diego Maradona and Caroline Wozniacki also posed for selfies during their meeting at the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. Getty Images
  • In his role as Dubai Sports Council ambassador, Diego Maradona attended the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series in Naples - the city where he earned legendary status having led Napoli to the most successful era in the club's history. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
    In his role as Dubai Sports Council ambassador, Diego Maradona attended the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series in Naples - the city where he earned legendary status having led Napoli to the most successful era in the club's history. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
  • Diego Maradona had the chance to climb inside an XCAT powerboat at the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series in Naples. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
    Diego Maradona had the chance to climb inside an XCAT powerboat at the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series in Naples. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
  • Diego Maradona spoke to XCAT pilots and members of the media during his trip to Naples in 2014 for the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
    Diego Maradona spoke to XCAT pilots and members of the media during his trip to Naples in 2014 for the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
  • Diego Maradona during his visit to Naples for the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
    Diego Maradona during his visit to Naples for the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
  • Diego Maradona during his visit to Naples for the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
    Diego Maradona during his visit to Naples for the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. Courtesy: XCAT World Series
  • Diego Maradona attended the opening ceremony of the 2015 Dubai Tour. Cyclists Stefano Pirazzi, left, and Nicola Ruffoni, right, grabbed the opportunity to take a selfie with the football legend. Getty Images
    Diego Maradona attended the opening ceremony of the 2015 Dubai Tour. Cyclists Stefano Pirazzi, left, and Nicola Ruffoni, right, grabbed the opportunity to take a selfie with the football legend. Getty Images
  • Diego Maradona met with local organisers and attendees when he attended the team presentations ahead of the 2016 Dubai Tour. Getty Images
    Diego Maradona met with local organisers and attendees when he attended the team presentations ahead of the 2016 Dubai Tour. Getty Images
  • Diego Maradona was in attendance for the men's final at the PSA Dubai World Series Finals in 2016. Colombian squash player Miguel Angel Rodriguez posed for a photo with Maradona. Getty Images
    Diego Maradona was in attendance for the men's final at the PSA Dubai World Series Finals in 2016. Colombian squash player Miguel Angel Rodriguez posed for a photo with Maradona. Getty Images
  • Diego Maradona during his appearance at the 2016 PSA Dubai World Series Finals, where he spoke to Colombian squash player Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Getty Images
    Diego Maradona during his appearance at the 2016 PSA Dubai World Series Finals, where he spoke to Colombian squash player Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Getty Images
  • Diego Maradona in 2013 during his introduction as Dubai Sports Council's Honorary Ambassador. AP
    Diego Maradona in 2013 during his introduction as Dubai Sports Council's Honorary Ambassador. AP
  • Diego Maradona attended the Beach Polo Cup Dubai in 2015. Here he is speaking to Beach Polo founder Sam Katiela. Courtesy Beach Polo Cup Dubai
    Diego Maradona attended the Beach Polo Cup Dubai in 2015. Here he is speaking to Beach Polo founder Sam Katiela. Courtesy Beach Polo Cup Dubai
  • Diego Maradona acted as a judge on football talent TV show 'The Victorious', which was filmed at Dubai Sports City, in 2014. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Diego Maradona acted as a judge on football talent TV show 'The Victorious', which was filmed at Dubai Sports City, in 2014. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Diego Maradona during his time as a judge on 'The Victorious' football talent show in 2014, alongside former Egyptian footballer Hany Ramzy, left, and former Spanish footballer Michel Salgado. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Diego Maradona during his time as a judge on 'The Victorious' football talent show in 2014, alongside former Egyptian footballer Hany Ramzy, left, and former Spanish footballer Michel Salgado. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Diego Maradona, unsurprisingly, was the star of the football talent TV show 'The Victorious' as he took on the role as judge trying to discover footballers from the region. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Diego Maradona, unsurprisingly, was the star of the football talent TV show 'The Victorious' as he took on the role as judge trying to discover footballers from the region. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Diego Maradona during the 2014 Dubai Tour. Christopher Pike / The National
    Diego Maradona during the 2014 Dubai Tour. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Diego Maradona, all suited and booted, attended the 2012 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Pawan Singh / The National
    Diego Maradona, all suited and booted, attended the 2012 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Diego Maradona made an appearance at the 2012 Beach Soccer Championship. Here he is being greeted by VIPs and invited guests during the UAE v Nigeria game. Mike Young / The National
    Diego Maradona made an appearance at the 2012 Beach Soccer Championship. Here he is being greeted by VIPs and invited guests during the UAE v Nigeria game. Mike Young / The National
  • Diego Maradona was on hand at the 2016 Dubai Tour alongside Said Harb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Sheikh Mansour, the son of the ruler of Dubai, during the trophy presentation. Marwan Naamani / The National
    Diego Maradona was on hand at the 2016 Dubai Tour alongside Said Harb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Sheikh Mansour, the son of the ruler of Dubai, during the trophy presentation. Marwan Naamani / The National

Football

Diego in Dubai: From tennis with Del Potro to starstruck cyclists - Maradona's time as DSC Ambassador in pictures

Argentine football legend, who died on Wednesday at the age of 60, was a long-time resident in the UAE

Jon Turner

November 26, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

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.

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.

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