Sports NEWS

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazilian football icon Pele, a three-time World Cup winner who transformed the “beautiful game” and is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, died on Thursday, Dec. 29, at the age of 82.

A 37-year-old Cuban woman, who had an affair with Diego Maradona as a minor 20 years ago, accused the late Argentine idol and his entourage on Monday of violence and abuse, including rape and holding her against her will.

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona was suffering from liver, kidney and cardiovascular disorders but there were no signs of alcohol or narcotics consumption in his autopsy, the public prosecutor said on Wednesday.

Diego Maradona's death last month shook the world of sport in a year which began with the tragic loss of basketball hero Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash.

"I love you, Diego" Pele has written on social media, a week after the death of his "great friend" Diego Maradona, a "genius who enchanted the world".

Barcelona on Sunday followed the advice of coach Ronald Koeman and paid tribute to their former player Diego Maradona with an emphatic return to form in La Liga and a 4-0 victory over Osasuna.

On the first weekend of sporting action since the death of Diego Maradona, sports, leagues and teams round the world on Saturday paid tribute to the Argentine football great.

Diego Maradona Jr., son of the late Argentine football great Diego Armando Maradona, bid an emotional farewell to his father on Friday, with a moving message on Instagram.

Huge crowds bade a grief-filled adieu Thursday to Argentina's favorite son Diego Maradona before he was buried on the outskirts of the capital after a farewell that at times descended into chaos.

Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, died Wednesday at the age of 60, plunging his native Argentina and football fans around the world into mourning.