Diego Maradona is gone but will never be forgotten, according to Lionel Messi.
The Argentine pair are regarded by many as the greatest footballers of all time, and after Maradona's death at the age of 60, Messi penned an emotional tribute.
"A very sad day for all Argentines and for football. He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal," he wrote in an Instagram post.
"I keep all the beautiful moments lived with him and I wanted to take the opportunity to send my condolences to all his family and friends. RIP."
Maradona died of a heart attack at home in Tigre, Argentina, where he was recovering following recent brain surgery.
Unlike Messi, Maradona experienced success on the international stage, as he inspired his nation to World Cup glory in 1986 when they beat West Germany in the final.
He provided two of the most memorable moments in World Cup history along the way with his Hand of God goal and incredible dribble - both against England in the quarter-final.
Maradona later managed Messi at the 2010 World Cup. Before the tournament in South Africa, he said Messi was "playing a kick-about with Jesus", and also said "Messi is better than me at World Cup '86. He's the best player in the world and better by far compared to others".
However, the pair were unable to experience success, and Messi failed to register a single goal despite Argentine reaching the quarter final where they were beaten 4-0 by Germany.
Messi has also spoken fondly of Maradona before.
"Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona," he said in 2010.
"Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been."
He also revealed the self-belief that Maradona gave him.
"The truth is that Maradona has always been very nice to me, even before he was our coach and I took my first steps as a professional," Messi told CNN in 2010.
"Now that I have him as a coach, he's even more close and he gives me a lot more of his confidence than he did before."
He added: "At first, it was strange to have him as our coach. The truth is he was a little imposing.
"But afterwards, we started getting used to him and he's been our coach for a while, so now it's normal. Also, he's really close to the players, he's one of the guys, so there's no problem."
Maradona played 91 times for Argentina, scoring 34 goals - the last of which came in 1994. Messi meanwhile has now made 142 appearances for his country, scoring 71 goals.
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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
