Diego Maradona was shocked by how his World Cup health scare on Tuesday was reported and insists: "I am very much alive."
The 57-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, said he had been suffering from neck pain as he attended his country's game against Nigeria earlier this week.
But he denied reports he had been hospitalised and demonstrated his good health with an appearance on Telesur's De La Mano del 10 programme.
He said: "I was shocked that [reports suggested] there had been a stretcher, an ambulance. Nothing happened.
"We were all together, the Telesur team and my team, and we could not believe how social networks started to make a big lie, which made no sense, go viral like that.
"It makes me a bit angry, because my sister, yesterday she made me whistle on the phone to see if I was OK, and I went [whistles].
"'What else do you want me to do?' I asked her.
"My brother in Italy, my nephew in the United States worried, because of course the bad news travels much faster than the good news.
"I am very much alive, and very well taken care of."
Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 to progress to the last 16 of the World Cup, where they will face France on Saturday.
The 1986 World Cup-winner looked increasingly frazzled as the game wore on, at one stage slumped forward in his seat just before half-time.
After Nigeria made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after the break – a scoreline that would have sent Argentina crashing out of the tournament – Maradona grew increasingly distraught.
By the 80th minute, he sat with his hands covering his face, unable to watch as the seconds ticked towards a footballing calamity for Argentina.
Yet when Marcos Rojo swept in a sumptuous volley with four minutes remaining, Maradona exploded with emotion, shouting an obscene insult before raising the middle finger of each hand in the direction of the pitch.
GALLERY: Maradona's roller-coaster of emotions during match against Nigeria
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Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina's victory over Nigeria at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Alex Morton / Getty Images -
Nigeria's Odion Ighalo cries at the end of the group D match between Argentina and Nigeria. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo -
Argentina's fans celebrate after the match in a subway car. Anton Vaganov / Reuters -
Nigeria players react at the end of the group D match between Argentina and Nigeria. Michael Sohn / AP photo -
DiegoMaradona shows his support to Argentina prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Julian Finney / Getty Images -
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Alex Livesey / Getty Images -
Fans react at an Argentinian restaurant during the match. Paulo Whitaker / Reuters -
A Nigerian supporter cries in Lagos on June 26, 2018, as he watches the Russia 2018 World Cup football match between Nigeria and Argentina. Segun Ogunfeyitimi / AFP -
Argentina's fans react as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup Group D Argentina vs Nigeria match, at a public viewing area at a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Martin Acosta / Reuters -
An Argentina fan reacts as he watches a broadcast of the World Cup Group D Argentina vs Nigeria match, at a public viewing area at a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 26, 2018. Martin Acosta / Reuters -
Marcos Rojo of Argentina celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images -
Fans of Argentina celebrate as they watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Nigeria on a giant screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Fans of Argentina watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Nigeria on a giant screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Diego Maradona during the match. Henry Romero / Reuters -
Diego Maradona reacts in the stands. Sergio Perez / Reuters -
Argentina's Lionel Messi embraces with teammate Javier Mascherano after their 2-1 win over Nigeria during a group D match. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo -
Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain cries after the group D against Nigeria. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo -
Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates. Henry Romero / Reuters
Maradona has had a series of health problems, including cocaine addiction.
In 2007, he reportedly came close to death after being admitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires to be treated for hepatitis and substance abuse.
Maradona was in May appointed as chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest following a season in UAE club football management.
The Argentine left Fujairah on April 27 after failing to guide the UAE second-tier side to automatic promotion to the Arabian Gulf League. Fujairah eventually clinched a place in the top flight by overcoming Hatta in a play-off.
Maradona was linked initially with a return to the Fujairah hot-seat in a frenzied few days following his departure, but has now made the unlikely move to board level at Brest. The club, eighth in this season’s Belarusian Premier League, have given him a contract through to 2021.
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Read more on World Cup 2018:
World Cup 2018: Day 15 updates - Germany out, England take on Belgium
WATCH: Messi sits out training as Argentina prepare for World Cup clash with France
What next for Achilles the cat after error with Argentina victory over Nigeria?
Extra Time podcast: Messi finally comes through as World Cup knockout stages take shape
'I am fine': Maradona reassures fans after health scare in Argentina World Cup thriller
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