Argentina soccer great Diego Maradona said on Wednesday he was fine after appearing to be taken ill during the South Americans' roller-coaster World Cup win over Nigeria on Tuesday.
I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not, neither was I, interned. In the halftime of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a decompensation. I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all. How could I leave? I send a kiss to everyone, thanks for the support!Maradona said in an Instagram post
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A video posted on Twitter after Tuesday's game showed Maradona needing help to walk as Argentina survived in the World Cup thanks to a late goal.
During the game, Maradona drew attention with his antics in the stands – enjoying adulation from fans, seemingly falling asleep at one point, and making an obscene gesture with both hands after Marcos Rojo's 86th minute winner secured Argentina's place in the last 16.
Maradona, now 57 and who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, has battled cocaine addiction in the past. In 2015, he underwent a gastric bypass operation.
Argentina had a rough time battling their way through the group D stage but finally broke the deadlock against Nigeria on Tuesday to enter the round of 16.
Lionel Messi, who has been carrying the hopes of 44 million fans on his shoulder felt revived after his first goal in the FIFA World Cup 2018.
It was a Do or Die situation for the South Americans in order to sustain themselves in the World Cup race.
Now the struggle to move ahead and compete in this battlefield will intensify even more, when they take on France on Saturday at the Kazana Arena.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
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