Argentina fans in Doha pay tribute to Maradona to mark two-year anniversary of his death

An Argentina fan holds up his drum showing an image of former player Diego Maradona on the Doha Corniche. Friday marked the two-year anniversary of the 1986 World Cup winner's death. Reuters

An Argentina fan bangs his drum showing an image of former player Diego Maradona. Reuters

Argentina fans enjoy the atmosphere at the Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar, during the Fifa World Cup 2022. Getty

Argentina fans enjoy the atmosphere at the Souq Waqif.

Argentina fans hold up a flag with the image of Diego Maradona.

Argentina fans pack the Souq Waqif in Doha to mark the second anniversary of Diego Maradona's death. Getty

A fan stands next to paintings of Diego Maradona painted by Argentine artist Claudia Perez, on the second anniversary of Maradona's death at a fan zone devoted to the Argentine at Doha's international airport on November 25, 2022. AFP

Fans of Argentina's Diego Maradona cheer as the pay tribute on the second anniversary of his death at a fan zone devoted to the Argentine at Doha's international airport. AFP

A fan signs his name on a wall to pay tribute to Argentina football legend Diego Maradona at Doha's international airport. AFP

A fan writes a message on a wall honouring the life of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona. AFP

Fans take pictures of football jerseys worn by Diego Maradona throughout his career. AFP

Fans board a plane with Diego Maradona's picture on as they pay tribute on the second anniversary of Maradona's death at a fan zone at Doha's international airport. AFP

A fan of Argentina's Diego Maradona holds up a poster. AFP

Argentina fans display a banner of Diego Maradona prior to the Australia MD-1 Training Session at Aspire Training Ground on November 25, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. Getty Images

An image of late football star Diego Maradona is seen on the second anniversary of his death at CONMEBOL fan zone "Tree of dreams" during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament in Doha, on November 25, 2022. AFP

A statue depicting late Argentine football star Diego Maradona is seen during his tribute ceremony on the second anniversary of his death at the "Tree of dreams" in the CONMEBOL fan zone in Doha. AFP

Argentine football greats and thousands of World Cup fans paid tributes Friday to Diego Maradona on the second anniversary of the football legend's death.

Many choked the narrow alleys of Doha's main market on the eve of Argentina's must-win clash against Mexico, waving Maradona flags and chanting his name along with that of current No 10 Lionel Messi. Police barricaded entrances into Souq Waqif because of the numbers.

Argentina has barely recovered from Maradona's death from a heart attack on November 25, 2020 at the age of 60 after years of drug and alcohol troubles.

The Argentine played in four World Cups, lifting the trophy in 1986 when he scored his "Hand of God" goal against England. He was kicked out of the 1994 tournament after failing a drug test.

Former teammates from that 1986 team - Claudio Ruggeri, Nery Pumpido, Jorge Burruchaga, Ricardo Giusti, Sergio Batista, Claudio Borghi, Carlos Tapia, Jorge Valdano and Hector Enrique - attended a tribute at a South American confederation (CONMEBOL) fan zone in Doha.

They were joined by members of the 1978 winning team - Ubaldo Fillol, Mario Kempes, Daniel Bertoni, Ricardo Villa, Omar Larrosa and Alberto Tarantini.

"Like the great masters of painting, he made sketches until completing his most wonderful work against England," said Valdano, recalling Maradona's superb second goal against England in the 1986 quarter-final.

Some fans shouted "Viva Diego" as South American confederation president Alejandro Dominguez and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino both called Maradona "immortal".

Many fans visited a Maradona FanFest in a hangar near Doha airport where there was memorabilia and a private jet painted with the footballer's portrait.

Argentina fans also gathered on the Doha Corniche to unfurl flags in honour of Maradona.