The footballing icon was attended to by medics after the game. He is now in a stable condition.
Diego Maradona was extremely lively during Argentina’s match against Nigeria tonight. He was visibly overwhelmed after Marcos Rojo’s winning goal to send Argentina into the next round, as he gestured aggressively towards Nigeria fans during the celebrations.
But the former Argentina player had to be taken to hospital after the final whistle, as he struggled to climb the stairs on his way out of the stadium.
He was taken to a hospital in St Petersburg by the stadium’s medical team, as ESPN’s Diego Cora reports.
Maradona tuvo que ser atendido por los médicos y fue llevado a un hospital. El video que circula muestra cuando lo sacan descompensado. https://t.co/9D4FLd55Ah
— DiegoCora (@diegocoraok) June 26, 2018
Diego Maradona had to be carried out of the Saint Petersburg Stadium this evening#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/F8PmEg7xOw
— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) June 26, 2018
According to reports from Russia, Maradona is now in a stable condition.
Maradona’s antics during the game, in particular his obscene gesture after Rojo’s winning goal, did not go down with the BBC’s punditry panel.
Gary Lineker said: “Maradona’s in danger of becoming a laughing stock, I’m afraid.” Rio Ferdinand added:
“His career as a football player on the pitch was up there with the best, but unfortunately there are moments like this that do arrive. It is not nice to see that.”
Update: The folks running Maradona’s Instagram account have posted an update on his well-being.
‘I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not [sick], neither was I [admitted to hospital].
“At half-time of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot… I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all. How could I leave? I send a kiss to everyone, thanks for the support!’
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkgtn_ahCQo/?hl=en&taken-by=maradona
Rest up Diego.
