A fan laments the death of Argentina soccer great Diego Maradona on Nov. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Luis Licona)

Diego Maradona, the football legend who guided Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, died on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 60.

By Michael Place

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 25  -- Diego Maradona, the football legend who guided Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, died on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 60.

Maradona's spokesman, Sebastian Sanchi, said the former forward passed away at his home in Tigre, north of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, where he was recovering after undergoing brain surgery earlier this month.

The news sparked an outpouring of emotion as the Argentine government declared three days of mourning.

"You took us to the highest point in the world, and made us immensely happy," President Alberto Fernandez said in a tweet. "You were the greatest of all. Thank you for having been with us, Diego. We will miss you all our lives."

Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors in October 1976, 10 days before his 16th birthday. He made his full international debut four months later but was left out of the Argentina squad for the 1978 World Cup because coach Cesar Luis Menotti felt he was not ready.

An advanced playmaker, Maradona quickly earned a reputation as gifted dribbler whose vision, balance and ball control stood him apart from his peers.