DIEGO MARADONA, one of the greatest players in soccer history who almost singlehandedly led his native Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, has died after suffering a heart attack, the country’s football federation said Wednesday. He was 60.

Maradona had long battled heath problems since his playing days ended. Earlier this month, he underwent brain surgery in Buenos Aires and was only discharged from the hospital two weeks ago.

Maradona was seen as a God-like figure in Argentina after winning the World Cup. Right up until his death, he was revered in the country more than Lionel Messi, who is now considered by most as the greatest player ever.

Maradona nearly led Argentina to its third world title in 1990, but Argentina lost the final to West Germany. His international career came to a sad end at the 1994 World Cup, which he was sent home from after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Maradona spent the last dozen years of his life as a full-time manager. After leading his country at South Africa 2010, he coached clubs in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. At the time of his death, he was in his second season at the helm of Argentine Primera Division side Gimnasia de La Plata.

Maradona’s body did not show “any sign of violence” and everything indicates that he died of “natural causes,” the prosecutor general of the Argentinian town of San Isidro, John Broyad, said Wednesday.

Argentina’s government declared three days of national mourning for the death of Maradona, the office of the presidency said.

(SD-Xinhua)