Diego Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has died.

Reports in Argentina today said the legend had passed away at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The iconic player had a heart attack at his home two weeks after leaving hospital, where he underwent surgery on a blot clot in his brain.

Tributes have already started pouring in for the extraordinarily talented player who helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup as well as starring for Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors in the club game.

Gary Lineker played in the infamous "Hand of God" game in the World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico 86 - when Maradona scored a hugely controversial goal with his hand, before going on to score one of the greatest individual goals ever seen.

Lineker tweeted: "Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God."

Maradona was perhaps best known for his legendary exploits for Argentina but was also renowned in his club career - particularly in Italy with Napoli, who he led to a first Serie A title in 1987 and another in 1990.

His brilliance also helped Napoli to the Italian Cup in 1987 and the UEFA Cup in 1991, having began with Los Cebollitas, a youth team of Argentinos Juniors, going on to star for Boca Juniors in his home country.

He joined Barcelona for a world record £5m fee in 1982, then moving to Napoli two years later.

He played a central role in Napoli's emergence from the shadow of established Italian champions such as Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan, and later played for Sevilla before returning to Argentina with Newell's Old Boys and Boca.

Internationally, he first played in the World Cup in Spain in 1982 but it was four years later in Mexico when he delivered unsurpassed performances in helping Argentina win the tournament.

He played in every game as Argentina surged through the rounds, memorably accounting for England in the Azteca Stadium with one of the most controversial goals of all time - and then one of the most brilliant.

His goals saw off Belgium in the semi-final before a 3-2 win against West Germany saw Maradona lift the trophy.

He also led Argentina to the final in 1990 while his final appearance in the global tournament, in the USA in 1994, ended in shame as he was sent home after testing positive for the banned substance ephedrine.

He made 91 appearances for Argentina, scoring 34 goals.

His personal life was often chequered, with Maradona given a 15-month suspension for drug violations in 1991 and an addiction to cocaine marking his time in Naples. He later suffered heart problems.

He managed Argentina in the 2010 World Cup as they reached the quarter-finals, and also managed in the club game in Dubai and Argentina.

His greatness on the pitch was recognised in 2000 when he was named FIFA's player of the century, along with Brazilian great Pele.

Alberto Fernández, president of Argentina, said in tribute: "You took us to the top of the world. You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thanks for having existed, Diego. We will miss you for life."