WATCH THE VIDEO HERE On Monday, Messi shared his thoughts on Maradona with his 504 million Instagram followers. The Inter Miami star posted a simple yet powerful message: “Eternal,” accompanied by an iconic photograph of Maradona lifting the World Cup trophy in 1986. That historic moment in Mexico remains etched in the hearts of football fans worldwide. Maradona, who passed away at the age of 60 in 2020 due to a heart attack, left an indelible mark on football and Argentina. His death prompted three days of national mourning, with millions grieving the loss of a man who led Argentina to their second World Cup triumph. Messi himself emulated Maradona’s feat in 2022 when he inspired Argentina to their third World Cup victory in Qatar, cementing his own place in football history. The connection between the two icons has always been a source of pride for the nation. In Naples, where Maradona achieved legendary status during his time with Napoli, the club paid its own tribute. Manager Antonio Conte, captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and president Aurelio De Laurentiis laid flowers at murals honouring the Argentine. Fans also gathered in the Quartieri Spagnoli to pay their respects to Maradona and his enduring impact. Looking forward, Messi and Argentina have their focus on defending their crown at the 2026 World Cup. Under Lionel Scaloni, the Albiceleste lead the CONMEBOL qualifying standings, sitting four points ahead of Uruguay. Fans are hopeful that Messi, now 37, can once again guide the team to glory in North America.
Lionel Messi, Argentina, and Napoli unite in paying tribute to Diego Maradona, four years on
Lionel Messi has paid a moving tribute to Diego Maradona, on the fourth anniversary of the legendary Argentine’s death, with a poignant message on social media, Soccernet.football reports.