DIEGO MARADONA’S daughter Dalma broke down in tears as both Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys honoured her legendary father during Sunday’s game.
The Argentine icon died on Wednesday following a cardiac arrest – with players, pundits, managers and fans all flocking to pay their respects.
Dalma Maradona was left in tears after Boca Juniors’ touching tribute
Dalma couldn’t contain her emotion after the players gave her a standing ovation
Dalma was comforted by her husband in her dad’s old boxCredit: Getty – Pool
Boca Juniors players paid tribute to Diego and Dalma in heart-wrenching fashionCredit: Getty – Pool
Fans have lined the streets of Argentina and Naples with flares and jerseys – with his home nation even observing three days of mourning.
On Sunday, Lionel Messi celebrated his goal against Osasuna by taking off his Barcelona shirt to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys jersey with Maradona’s No10 on it.
But arguably the most-heart-wrenching tribute of all came in Argentina on Sunday at Boca’s iconic Bombanera stadium.
During his playing career, Maradona turned out for both Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys in his home nation.
And the two teams played each other in the Argentine Primera Division on Sunday.
Before the game, players from BOTH teams lined up wearing special shirts to observe a minute’s applause.
The match ball was even driven on to the pitch on the back of a remote control car, which was also carrying a Boca Juniors jersey with Maradona’s No10 on it.
Boca stars all wore jerseys with ‘Maradona’ and their own number on the back for the game itself.
Players and officials lined up in special Maradona shirts before the gameCredit: AFP
The match ball was carried onto the pitch by a remote control car also holding an old Maradona jerseyCredit: Getty – Pool
Players lined up around a ‘Diego Eterno’ banner in the centre-circle before kick-offCredit: EPA
Boca Juniors players all had ‘Maradona’ printed across their jerseys for the gameCredit: AFP
But it was 12 minutes into the game when the biggest tear-jerker arrived.
Edwin Cardona – who scored both goals in Boca’s 2-0 win – bent home a gorgeous free-kick to give his side the lead.
The goal would have made Maradona proud – but what he did next was better than any piece of skill.
Cardona joined the rest of his Boca Juniors team-mates in sprinting over to Maradona’s daughter, Dalma, who was in her father’s box for the game.
The squad laid down an Argentina jersey in front of her, stood around it and applauded.
At that moment, Dalma couldn’t contain her emotions any longer, bursting into tears.
Boca Juniors put up banners and showed an image of Maradona on the big screen throughout the gameCredit: EPA
Banners for Maradona surrounded the pitch in a touching tributeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Last week, Boca Juniors turned off every light in their stadium except for the ones in Maradona’s box in an incredible tribute to their former star.
Meanwhile, Maradona’s personal doctor has protested his innocence and says he’s being made a ‘scapegoat’ after police raided his home yesterday.
In an emotional statement, Leopoldo Luque said he was ‘shocked’ he was being probed over alleged negligence amid reports the footballer’s death is being treated as manslaughter.
And his nurse has admitted she lied about giving the football legend a check-up on the day he died, according to reports.
Diego Maradona cops search house of personal doctor amid reports legend’s death is being treated as manslaughter
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
