Add Category
Maradona died on Wednesday of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he was recovering from a brain operation on November 3.
Open visitation started at 6.15am local time after a few hours of privacy for family and close friends. The first to bid him farewell were his daughters and close family members. His ex-wife Claudia Villafañe came with Maradona's daughters Dalma and Gianinna. Later came Verónica Ojeda, also his ex-wife, with their son Dieguito Fernando.
Jana, who Maradona recognised as his daughter only a few years ago, also attended.
Thousands line up to file past the coffin of Maradona, who died of a heart attack.Credit:Getty Images
Then came former teammates of the 1986 World Cup-winning squad including Oscar Ruggeri. Other Argentine footballers, such as Boca Juniors' Carlos Tévez, showed up, too.
The lines started forming outside the Casa Rosada only hours after Maradona's death was confirmed, and grew to several blocks. Among those present were the renowned barrabravas fans of Boca Juniors, one of his former clubs.
The first fan to visit was Nahuel de Lima, 30, using crutches to move because of a disability.
"He made Argentina be recognised all over the world," de Lima said.
"Diego is the people .... Today the shirts, the political flags don't matter. We came to say goodbye to a great that gave us a lot of joy."
Lidia and Estela Villalba cried near the exit of the lobby. Both had a Boca Juniors shirt and an Argentinian flag on their shoulders.
Loading
"We told him we love him, that he was the greatest," they said.
A huge mural of Maradona's face was painted on the tiles that cover the Plaza de Mayo, near the Casa Rosada, which was decorated with a giant black ribbon at the entrance.
A giant screen in front of the Casa Rosada displayed photos of Maradona to the passing fans, most but not all of whom wore masks due to the coronavirus pandemic.