'Now is the moment for tears' - how the football world reacted to the death of Diego Maradona

Tributes pour in from some of the game's biggest stars

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

Argentine football great Diego Maradona died on Wednesday, after suffering a heart attack, plunging the football world into grief.

Here are some of the reactions to the 60-year-old's death.

Brazil great Pele

"Sad news to lose a friend like that. May God give enough strength to his family. For sure, one day we will kick a ball together in heaven.

Argentina and Barcelona captain Lionel Messi

"A very sad day for all Argentinians and for football. He has left us but he isn't going anywhere because Diego is eternal. I'll remember the lovely moments I experienced with him and I send my condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace."

Napoli, Maradona's club from 1984-1991

"Everyone is waiting for our words but what words could we possibly use for a pain such as this that we are going through? Now is the moment for tears. Then there will be the moment for words.

"We are in mourning. We feel like a boxer who has been knocked out. We are in shock. A devastating blow for both city and club. Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego."

Atletico Madid coach Diego Simeone

"When I was growing up Diego was the guide on how to play football. This painful moments hurts us all, because Maradona is football, he is Argentina, he had that rebellious character which defined him everywhere he went.

"He really looked after me when we were both at Sevilla and I was very young. Diego may have gone but his spirit will remain on every football pitch."

Former Barcelona teammate Bernd Schuster

"Maradona was a leader on the pitch, opponents dished out the ugliest of tackles to him but he never stopped asking for the ball. We didn't know how to make the most of Diego at Barcelona, at times we left him alone on the pitch."

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane

"It's an enormous loss for the world in general but above all for football. What he did in the 1986 World Cup is engraved in my mind. We feel awful about what happened today, we are very sad."

Former England striker Gary Lineker

"By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he'll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego"

Former Brazil striker Romario

"His time on earth brought a lot of happiness to his country and seduced us all. I'll never forget all the laughs we had. He was never an adversary for me."

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp

"I'm 53 years old, my entire life, he was a part of it. Diego was a sensational guy. Maradona had some struggles. I will miss both."

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola

"There was a banner in Argentina that said: 'No matter what you have done with your life Diego, what matters is what you have done for our lives.'

"He gave a lot of joy and he made football better. What he did for Napoli and for Argentina in 1986 was something unbelievable. On the pitch he was unique. A once in a generation."

Portugal and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo

"Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius. One of the best of our times. An unparalleled magician. He leaves too early but leaves a legacy without limits and a void that will never be filled. Rest in peace. You will never be forgotten."

Former Argentina star Osvaldo Ardiles

"He'll be remembered as a genius in football. You can see the extraordinary amount of interest he generates. People like Ronaldo or Messi, they couldn't even dream of having this kind of admiration."

Maradona's life in pictures