ARGENTINIAN football legend Diego Armando Maradona has died at the age of 60. 

The football legend is regarded as one of the greatest of all time and helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1986.

According to reports in his homeland the former attacking midfielder and manager had a cardiac arrest at home.

The Argentinian Football Association has confirmed the news. 

The Argentina World Cup winner and the national team’s former manager had been in hospital in Buenos Aires after surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain earlier this month.

The AFA said on Twitter: “The Argentine Football Association, through its President Claudio Tapia, expresses its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend, Diego Armando Maradona. You will always be in our hearts.”

Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and was the inspiration for Argentina’s World Cup success in Mexico in 1986. He also led the country to the final of the 1990 tournament in Italy and managed them in South Africa in 2010.

Affectionately known as "Diego" he played football for Boca Juniors, Napoli, and Barcelona among others.

He was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.

The National: Diego Maradona holds up the World Cup after Argentina beat West Germany in the World Cup Final in Mexico.Diego Maradona holds up the World Cup after Argentina beat West Germany in the World Cup Final in Mexico.

He is also famous for his role in the 'Hand of God' goal that eliminated England from the 1986 tournament. 

He also led the country to the final of the 1990 tournament in Italy and managed them in South Africa in 2010.

Maradona had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.