Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani pays tribute to football icon Diego Maradona

Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has paid tribute to Diego Maradona following his death at the age of 60.

The Argentina World Cup winner and the national team’s former manager had been in hospital in Buenos Aires after surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain earlier this month.

The AFA said on Twitter: “The Argentine Football Association, through its president Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona.

"You will always be in our hearts.”

Maradona is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and was the inspiration for Argentina’s World Cup success in Mexico in 1986. He also led the country to the final of the 1990 tournament in Italy and managed them in South Africa in 2010.

Maradona’s successes made him a global star and a national hero in Argentina but his career was also blighted by controversies on and off the field.

Elland Road owner Radrizzani took to social media to pay tribute to one of his footballing heroes following the announcement.

"Such a dark day," Radrizzani tweeted.

"RIP hero. My heart is broken. You are my football world and always will be."

He later tweeted: "GOAT. Rest in peace, Diego. Always grateful for the joy and emotions I lived watching you playing football."