Former World Cup champion Diego Maradona has been reportedly hospitalised in Saint Petersburg after Argentina’s 2-1 victory against Nigeria.
Maradona had been present for all three of Argentina’s group games and was once again an animated figure at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, but the Guardian’s Ed Aarons reported he was later sent to hospital.
As good as the entertainment on the pitch was in Moscow, former national team manager Maradona continued his trend as something of a sideshow in the stands.
According to ESPN, Maradona collapsed after the final whistle and was taken away from the stadium. No further details on his condition are available at the moment.
Maradona was watching the game from the VIP sector of the Saint Petersburg Stadium and his expressive and high emotional state were filmed on camera on numerous occasions, including when he gave a double middle finger after his country scored their second goal.
Maradona has followed Argentina as they toiled in the group stage, with the team looking to replicate his success at the 1986 World Cup, where he led the team to their second of two world titles.
The Argentina icon was previously hospitalised as recently as the beginning of June, just prior to the World Cup, although that was reported to have been due to knee problems, per the Mirror’s Alex Cope.
Marcos Rojo volleyed in an 86th-minute winner for his side after Victor Moses’ penalty had cancelled out captain Lionel Messi’s opener, meaning Argentina finished as Group D runners-up behind Croatia. Argentina will face Group C winners France in Kazan on Saturday.
