Diego Maradona's death leaves a nation in mourning as thousands flood the streets - in pictures

Three days of mourning declared for Argentina's favourite son

A fan cries as she pays homage to Maradona at Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in La Paternal, Buenos Aires, in November. AFP

Football fans surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Diego Maradona as it arrives at a funeral parlour in Buenos Aires. AP

A father and daughter mourn as they gather by the Buenos Aires Obelisk to pay homage to Maradona. AFP

People gather to mourn the death of football legend Diego Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters

A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, outside the Alberto J. Armando "La Bombonera" stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Reuters

A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium, in Rosario, Argentina, Reuters

Fans hold a vigil for Maradona outside the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, where he started as a professional footballer, in Buenos Aires. AP

A boy touches a mural of Maradona outside the Argentinos Juniors stadium. AP

Ffans carry a banner of Maradona in downtown Buenos Aires. AP

A man wearing a shirt with the face of Maradona cries outside the stadium of the Argentinos Juniors. AP

A sign reaing "Thank You Diego' hangs at the gate of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. AP

Fans pay tribute to Maradona after the news of his death was announced in Buenos Aires. Getty

Fans cry for Maradona after the news of his death, Getty

Supporters gather at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando. EPA

Police guard at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando, Buenos Aires province. EPA

A fan with a Maradona face mask and motorcycle helmet at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. Getty

People gather to mourn the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona outside San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy. Reuters

People gather to mourn the death of soccer legend Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires. Reuters

Fans gather at Obelisk of Buenos Aires to mourn and pay tribute to Maradona. Getty

The back window of a car displays 'So long, God'. Getty

Fans gather to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in the corner of Segurola and Habana in Buenos Aires. Getty

A fan lights a candle to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty

Tributes to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty

Independiente's coach Lucas Pusineri wears a black armband in memory of Maradona before a Copa Sudamericana match against Uruguay's Fenix in Montevideo, Uruguay. AP

The Beira-Rio stadium with the colours of Argentina in tribute to Maradona in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Reuters

A fan holds a jersey reading 'Today football died' as fans gather to pay tribute to Diego Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty

Fireworks are let off and a screen displays the No 10 as a tribute to Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty

Stunned Argentines were plunged into grief by the death of the country's favourite son Diego Maradona, a sublimely gifted sporting hero they saw as "the most human of Gods."

The news fell like a hammer blow to a nation beaten down by months of economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, but one where football is seen as a panacea for all ills.

At 10:00pm Buenos Aires exploded in cheers, horns, sirens and lights for the man who famously wore the No 10, after a viral social media message called for "one last applause".

The homage resounded throughout the night in all the neighbourhoods of the Argentine capital.

At the Diego Maradona stadium, home to the Argentinos Juniors club where Maradona played as a child and made his debut as a professional player, fireworks were launched as a large crowd flooded into the field to the cry of "Maradooo, Maradooo."

Earlier, fans searching for a place to grieve gravitated towards the Obelisk landmark in downtown Buenos Aires - and, of course, the Bombonera, the steep-sided cauldron of a stadium that is home to Boca Juniors, where Maradona's genius was forged.

"I can't believe it. It's incredible. One thinks one gets through any storm, but no, everyone ends up being mortal. It feels like a bad dream," Francisco Salaverry, 28, told AFP.

"Today's a bad day. A very sad day for all Argentines," President Alberto Fernandez summed up in an interview with sports channel TyC, after declaring three days of national mourning.

All around the city, the mourning had already begun as fans stood forlornly beside banners in homage to the No 10, showing Maradona - who died aged 60 of a heart attack - in his dashing prime.

Many of the banners simply said D10S, a play on the Spanish word "dios" for "God" that includes Maradona's jersey number.

"I prefer not to speak. I'm going to the Obelisk today," said Guillermo Rodriguez, a lifelong fan who gave himself a tattoo of his idol on October 30th to celebrate Maradona's 60th birthday.

Rodriguez, 42, couldn't hold back his tears, saying he now knew he would never be able to fulfil his dream of hugging his idol.

"I'm totally shocked, grief-stricken," said Gabriel Oturi, 68. "I'll be honest with you. I thought he was a great guy who didn't have very good people around him, who was taken advantage of a lot."

"The first thing my 12-year-old son said to me was: 'Mum, Maradona died.' I couldn't believe it. And I didn't adore him particularly, but I felt sorry for him," said Marcela Rodriguez, 52.

"Few times in my life have I felt the pain that invades me today," wrote Maurico Passadore on social media, thinking about the famous World Cup tie against England in Mexico in June 1986, when Maradona scored the infamous "Hand of God" goal.

"Few times have I felt as much joy as that June 29, when we touched the sky with our hands, the same sky that today is darkened and fills us with tears."