ARGENTINE icon Tomas Carlovich died on Friday after being violently attacked by a thug who nicked his bike.
Diego Maradona – who claimed the midfielder was the best player in the world – has paid tribute to the 74-year-old.
Diego Maradona posted some snaps of himself with the Argentine legend
Carlovich suffered a stroke and slipped into a coma after he was attacked in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Two days later, the legend of the lower leagues sadly passed away.
Maradona shared a series of snaps from when he recently met up with Carlovich to his Instagram page.
Alongside the images, he wrote: “With your humility you danced us all, Trinche.
“I can’t believe it, I met you a while ago, and you’re gone.
“My deepest condolences to your family and I hope justice is done.
“May you rest in peace, master.”
Maradona – who openly claimed Carlovich was a better player than him – gave the 74-year-old a signed Gimnasia shirt.
After they met up, Carlovich told reporters: “He started speaking into my ear and wouldn’t stop.
“He even signed a shirt for me and wrote, ‘Trinche, you were better than me’.
“The only thing I could answer was ‘Diego, now I can leave this world in peace, you were the greatest I ever saw in my lifetime’.”
Carlovich only played a handful of games in Argentina’s top division, but it was not his ability that held him back.
The central midfielder played for the likes Rosario Central, Flandria, Independente Rivadavia, Central Cordoba during his career.
Tomas Carlovich ended his playing career in 1983
Maradona was among those that believed Carlovich was the greatest player on the planet.
Following his move to Newell’s in 1993, Maradona was asked by reporters what it felt like to be the best player in the world.
The former Napoli star replied: “The best player in the world has already played in Rosario, his name was Carlovich.”
Tomas Carlovich has passed away at the age of 74
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
