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Thousands of Argentinians say goodbye to Maradona

Maradona - Level 0

Football fans said goodbye to football legend Diego Maradona. He died of a heart attack, aged 60. Fans cried and blew kisses as they walked past his coffin. An Argentina flag and his number 10 football shirt covered his car. There is three days of national mourning for him. A fan said his hero Maradona represents "Argentinianess".

Maradona is one of the greatest players ever. He captained Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup. He scored the famous "Hand of God" goal against England, and the greatest goal of the twentieth century. Barcelona captain Lionel Messi said: "Maradona...is eternal." Pele wants to play with Maradona, "in the sky".

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Maradona - Level 1

Football fans have paid their respects to football legend Diego Maradona on the streets of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires. An Argentina flag and his number 10 football shirt covered his car. Thousands walked past his coffin at the Presidential Palace. They cried, blew kisses to their hero and prayed. Maradona died of a heart attack, aged 60. There is three days of national mourning for him. One fan said: "Maradona represents Argentinianess."

Maradona is one of the greatest players ever to play on a football pitch. He captained Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup. He scored the famous "Hand of God" goal against England, and a goal voted as the greatest of the twentieth century. Barcelona captain Lionel Messi said: "Maradona will never leave us because he is eternal." Brazilian legend Pele said he hoped to one day, "play together in the sky" with Maradona.

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Maradona - Level 2

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Football fans have paid their final respects to football legend Diego Maradona. Huge crowds were on the streets of the capital Buenos Aires to see his body. An Argentina flag and a football shirt with his trademark number 10 covered the car. Thousands walked past his coffin at the Presidential Palace. They cried, blew kisses to their hero and prayed. Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday, aged 60. Argentina's government declared three days of national mourning for him. One fan said: "Maradona represents Argentinianess. He [was above] football. He has my respect."

Maradona is one of the greatest players ever to step onto a football pitch. Many think he is the best. He captained Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup. He scored the famous "Hand of God" goal against England. In that same game, he scored a goal that was voted as the greatest goal of the twentieth century. Current Barcelona captain Lionel Messi said: "Maradona will never leave us because he is eternal." Brazilian legend Pele, a rival to Maradona for the world's greatest ever player accolade, said he hoped to one day, "play together in the sky" with Maradona.

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Maradona - Level 3

Thousands of football fans paid their final respects to football legend Diego Maradona on Thursday. Huge crowds lined the streets of the capital Buenos Aires to catch a glimpse of the car carrying his body. The car was draped in the Argentina flag and a football shirt bearing his trademark number 10. Thousands more silently walked past his coffin as it was put on public display at the Presidential Palace. They were weeping, blowing kisses to their hero and praying. Maradona passed away on Wednesday, aged 60. He died of a heart attack. Argentina's government declared three days of national mourning for him. One fan said: "Maradona represents Argentinianess. He transcended football. He has my respect. I had to be here."

Diego Armando Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever to step onto a football pitch. Many consider him to be the best. He captained his national team when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup. He scored the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals. In that same game, he scored another goal that was voted as the greatest goal of the twentieth century. Maradona played for Barcelona in Spain and Napoli in Italy. Current Barcelona captain Lionel Messi said: "Maradona will never leave us because Diego is eternal." Brazilian legend Pele, a constant rival to Maradona for the world's greatest ever player accolade, said he hoped to one day, "play together in the sky" with Maradona.

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