Following the death of Diego Maradona on Wednesday, sporting stars and politicians sang his praises on social media.
But while the great footballer was alive, a string of musicians and fans, from Argentina and Spain to Italy and beyond, recorded their own musical tributes to the diminutive striker.
From vibrant ska and Neapolitan folk to thumping stadium chants, these eclectic songs may come in different styles and languages, but they are universal in their love for a sporting hero who provided so much joy on the pitch.
Maradona may be gone, but these 10 tracks show he scored as much admiration off the field, too.
1. ‘La Mano de Dios’
This is arguably the best-known Maradona anthem.
Sung by the late Rodrigo Bueno, the title translates to "The Hand of God", in reference to the footballer's controversial 1986 Fifa World Cup goal. The piece is a sprightly folk and dance tune tracking Maradona's rise from humble beginnings in Argentina to stardom in the sporting world.
Maradona went on to make surprise appearances in clubs and sing the song himself, to dazzled crowds. “As a young buck I dreamed of the World Cup and rising to the top,” the song goes. “Perhaps by playing I could help my family.”
2.‘Marado’
Released in 1996 by popular Argentine group Los Piojos, the song begins with spoken word poetry announcing Maradona's skills and “his almost perfect dribble”, before the beats kick in and the track settles into a quirky ska groove.
The song's final lines extol Maradona's place in football history: “When the walls of this great town fall in pieces / When no longer remain in the air (nothing but) the ashes / what will be, will be ... and Diego is still the best in what he does.”
3. ‘La Vida Tombola'
Translated to "life is a ball", this track is a salute from one legend to another. Spanish singer Manu Chao captures the adventurism and joy of Maradona's playing style in this heartfelt number. "If I was Maradona, I'd live like him," Chao sings. "Because the world is a ball that has to be experienced to the fullest."
4. ‘O Mama Mama'
With Maradona spending his prime years with Italian football club Napoli, it is not surprising there are more than a dozen crowd anthems sung about the great man from the stands.
O Mama Mama has all the qualities of a cracking football chant: it is catchy, cheery and funny. " Oh, mama, mama, mama, do you know why heart is beating?" fans would sing. "I have seen Maradona. Oh, mama, I am in love."
5. ‘Maradona e Meglio 'e Pele’
This is another song that rang loud in Napoli's Sao Paolo stadium, which the city is considering renaming in honour of the late player. As well as being provocative in its assertion that Maradona is better than arch-rival Pele, the song, by Enzo Romani, also urges the Argentine to lift the spirits of the city. Talk about crowd pressure.
“Maradona, now that you are here, please erase all the shame about this city,” the lyrics state. “Maradona, you can't fail. For us you are brother, father and mother. Maradona, we are in your hands,"
6. ‘O Surdato 'nnammurato’
If it is good enough for Pavarotti, then it is good enough for Maradona. Napoli football fans used an old Neapolitan song, also sung by the late tenor, and replaced the object of affection in it with the star striker. The lyrics are suitably operatic: “Oh life, oh my life, oh heart of this heart,” the crowds would sing. “You have been my first love, the first and the last you’ll be for me.”
7. ‘Dale Diez’
An affectionate tribute by Argentine singer Julio Lacarra, this song captures the passion and joy that comes with seeing a sporting hero at his prime. Lacarra croons: "I dream for a long time to be the kid who screams your goal against the fence."
8. 'Diego Querido'
This is another song involving mothers taking their children to see the great man on the pitch. "Mum, I want," sings Willie Polvoron, “that Diego comes back (with us)."
9. 'Diego Armando Maradona'
Maradona's 1990 Fifa World Cup campaign may have not been his finest hour, but that didn't stop Paolo Petti from penning a tune that sounds like a news report from the match. "Asphyxiating markings, systematic doubling tricks to trap you," he sings. "And then the most unexpected play, and he undermined the defences and thrilled all those people."
10. 'Maradona'
Maradona's ability was so indisputable that even a Brazilian song was penned in his honour. Composed by Mau Mau, the track is a mark of respect to one of the greatest who ever played the game. "Always respecting adversaries," he sings. "When he enters the field in that shirt, (he brings with him) his soul and heart."
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
The%20Mandalorian%20season%203%20episode%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERick%20Famuyiwa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPedro%20Pascal%20and%20Katee%20Sackhoff%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Rally schedule:
Saturday: Super Special Spectator Stage – Yas Marina Circuit – start 3.30pm.
Sunday: Yas Marina Circuit Stage 1 (276.01km)
Monday: Nissan Stage 2 (287.92km)
Tuesday: Al Ain Water Stage 3 (281.38km)
Wednesday: ADNOC Stage 4 (244.49km)
Thursday: Abu Dhabi Aviation Stage 5 (218.57km) Finish: Yas Marina Circuit – 4.30pm.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prestigious peace prize, held its final meeting on Monday, the Nobel Institute said on Thursday, a day ahead of the announcement of the 2025 laureate.
This means a decision was made about the laureate or laureates before the conclusion of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, which included a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
President Donald Trump pushed for the ceasefire as part of a 20-point plan to resolve the Gaza war.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
Brief scores
Toss India, chose to bat
India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)
Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)
India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method
Frida%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarla%20Gutierrez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Frida%20Kahlo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
