Mavys Alvarez, a Cuban woman who had a relationship with late soccer star Diego Maradona two decades ago, told a news conference on Monday that the Argentine player had raped her when she was a teenager and "stolen her childhood."

Alvarez, now 37, gave testimony last week to an Argentine Ministry of Justice court that is investigating her allegations of trafficking against Maradona`s former entourage, linked to events when she was 16. 
Maradona, widely considered one of the greatest ever soccer stars, died a year ago on Nov. 25, 2020. The complaint relates to a journey Alvarez took to Argentina with Maradona in 2001, when he was around 40 and she was 16.

Alvarez said that she first met the soccer star shortly before the trip, when he was in Cuba to undergo drug addiction treatment. At a news conference in Buenos Aires, Alvarez said Maradona had raped her in the clinic in Havana where he was staying, while her mother was in the next room.

"He covers my mouth, he rapes me, I don`t want to think about it too much," Alvarez said. "I stopped being a girl, all my innocence was stolen from me. It`s hard. You stop living the innocent things that a girl of that age has to experience."

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Matias Morla, Maradona`s lawyer before his death, did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not identify other legal representatives for Maradona in the case. Alvarez has previously described the relationship in media interviews as consensual, but also said that Maradona had at least on one occasion forced himself upon her. 
She said that her family had only allowed a relationship with the star to happen, despite the large age gap, because of Maradona`s friendship with the late Cuban President Fidel Castro.

"My family would never have accepted it if the Cuban government had not been involved," she said. "They were forced in another way to accept a relationship that was not good for them, or for anyone." 
Cuba`s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Alvarez said she had filed the complaint "in order to help all women, all victims of trafficking, of crime," she said. "To be able to help them in whatever way I can. That`s my idea."

She said it was hard to be back in Argentina, where Maradona remains a hero to many. "It`s hard to be in his country, to see that he is everywhere, he is an idol and at the same time everything I remember about him as a person feels ugly," she said.

Mavys Alvarez, a Cuban woman who had a relationship with late soccer star Diego Maradona two decades ago, told a news conference on Monday that the Argentine player had raped her when she was a teenager and "stolen her childhood.

Mavys Alvarez, a Cuban woman who had a relationship with late soccer star Diego Maradona two decades ago, told a news conference on Monday that the Argentine player had raped her when she was a teenager and "stolen her childhood." Alvarez, now 37, gave testimony last week to an Argentine Ministry of Justice court that is investigating her allegations of trafficking against Maradona`s former entourage, linked to events when she was 16. Maradona, widely considered one of the greatest ever soccer stars, died a year ago on Nov. 25, 2020. The complaint relates to a journey Alvarez took to Argentina with Maradona in 2001, when he was around 40 and she was 16. Alvarez said that she first met the soccer star shortly before the trip, when he was in Cuba to undergo drug addiction treatment. At a news conference in Buenos Aires, Alvarez said Maradona had raped her in the clinic in Havana where he was staying, while her mother was in the next room. "He covers my mouth, he rapes me, I don`t want to think about it too much," Alvarez said. "I stopped being a girl, all my innocence was stolen from me. It`s hard. You stop living the innocent things that a girl of that age has to experience." ALSO READ | Cristiano Ronaldo pays heartfelt tribute to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Manchester United sacking Matias Morla, Maradona`s lawyer before his death, did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not identify other legal representatives for Maradona in the case. Alvarez has previously described the relationship in media interviews as consensual, but also said that Maradona had at least on one occasion forced himself upon her. She said that her family had only allowed a relationship with the star to happen, despite the large age gap, because of Maradona`s friendship with the late Cuban President Fidel Castro. "My family would never have accepted it if the Cuban government had not been involved," she said. "They were forced in another way to accept a relationship that was not good for them, or for anyone." Cuba`s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Alvarez said she had filed the complaint "in order to help all women, all victims of trafficking, of crime," she said. "To be able to help them in whatever way I can. That`s my idea." She said it was hard to be back in Argentina, where Maradona remains a hero to many. "It`s hard to be in his country, to see that he is everywhere, he is an idol and at the same time everything I remember about him as a person feels ugly," she said.

Cuban woman claims Argentina's great late Diego Maradona raped her as teenager, ''stole my childhood''

With a ball made from rags and surging adrenaline, the young Jorge Bergoglio and his friends pulled off "miracles" playing football in the street, Pope Francis recalled on Saturday.

Now 84, the Argentine pope remembered "the joy, the happiness on everyone's faces," after the 1946 victory of his Buenos Aires team, San Lorenzo, in a 31-page interview about sport published Saturday in Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The first pope from Latin America called Diego Maradona a "poet" on the field, as he weighed in on the joys of sport.

Expounding on themes of hard work, sacrifice and camaraderie, Francis shared memories of the makeshift footballs that sufficed to exhilarate him and his boyhood friends.

"Leather cost too much and we were poor, rubber wasn't used so much yet, but for us all we needed was a ball of rags to amuse ourselves and to create miracles, almost, playing in the little square near home," Pope Francis said.

Acknowledging he was "not among the best" of the footballers, Bergoglio played goalkeeper, which he characterised as a good school for learning how to respond to "dangers that could arrive from anywhere".

The pontiff — described by the paper as "a pope of the people in the most noble sense of the term" — touched on the need for teamwork and working towards a shared goal.

"Either you play together, or you risk crashing. That's how small groups, capable of staying united, succeed in taking down bigger teams incapable of working together," he said.

The interview, which took place in early December at the Vatican, also saw the pope condemn doping in sport and stress the need to nurture talent through hard work.

"It's not only a cheat, a shortcut that revokes dignity, but it's also wanting to steal from God that spark which, through his mysterious ways, he gave to some in a special and greater form," he said.

With a ball made from rags and surging adrenaline, the young Jorge Bergoglio and his friends pulled off "miracles" playing football in the street, Pope Francis recalled on Saturday.

With a ball made from rags and surging adrenaline, the young Jorge Bergoglio and his friends pulled off "miracles" playing football in the street, Pope Francis recalled on Saturday. Now 84, the Argentine pope remembered "the joy, the happiness on everyone's faces," after the 1946 victory of his Buenos Aires team, San Lorenzo, in a 31-page interview about sport published Saturday in Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. The first pope from Latin America called Diego Maradona a "poet" on the field, as he weighed in on the joys of sport. Expounding on themes of hard work, sacrifice and camaraderie, Francis shared memories of the makeshift footballs that sufficed to exhilarate him and his boyhood friends. "Leather cost too much and we were poor, rubber wasn't used so much yet, but for us all we needed was a ball of rags to amuse ourselves and to create miracles, almost, playing in the little square near home," Pope Francis said. Acknowledging he was "not among the best" of the footballers, Bergoglio played goalkeeper, which he characterised as a good school for learning how to respond to "dangers that could arrive from anywhere". The pontiff — described by the paper as "a pope of the people in the most noble sense of the term" — touched on the need for teamwork and working towards a shared goal. "Either you play together, or you risk crashing. That's how small groups, capable of staying united, succeed in taking down bigger teams incapable of working together," he said. The interview, which took place in early December at the Vatican, also saw the pope condemn doping in sport and stress the need to nurture talent through hard work. "It's not only a cheat, a shortcut that revokes dignity, but it's also wanting to steal from God that spark which, through his mysterious ways, he gave to some in a special and greater form," he said.

Pope recalls meeting Maradona, says ‘he was a poet on field’

Diego Maradona's doctor Leopoldo Luque is under investigation for manslaughter after the football idol died of a heart attack at his home, the Argentinean media reported. 
 
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The probe was triggered by concerns raised by Maradona's daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana over the treatment he received for his heart condition at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, judicial sources said.

Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60 and was buried on Thursday at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital. 
 
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"Our investigations are ongoing, we are talking to witnesses including members of the family" of Maradona, a source close to the San Isidro inquiry said.

According to Dr Luque, He was “unmanageable”, “He should have gone to a rehabilitation centre (after his operation). He didn’t want to, and he didn’t want a therapeutic companion either”.

“Do you want to know what I’m responsible for? To have loved him, to have taken care of him, to have prolonged his life, to have improved it until the end”, declared Dr Luque in a televised press conference, between two sobs.

Dr Luque, 39, saw himself as “a friend” of Maradona and saw him “as a father, not a patient”. He does not know why there was no heart attack defibrillator at his residence in Tigre, and he did indicate that he was not his attending physician.

The Argentine great died after suffering a cardiac arrest in his home in Tigre, Argentina.

Maradona was recovering from recent brain surgery to remove a blood clot at the start of November and was accompanied by his nephew, Johnny Esposito, and a nurse.

According to a report in The Sun, Maradona completed his breakfast on Wednesday morning and complained of feeling cold before telling his nephew that he was going to lie down as he didn’t feel good.

It is being claimed that Maradona, before going to bed, said: “Me Siento mal” - which translates in England to “I don’t feel well”.

(With inputs from agencies)

Diego Maradona's doctor Leopoldo Luque is under investigation for manslaughter after the football idol died of a heart attack at his home, the Argentinean media reported.

Diego Maradona's doctor Leopoldo Luque is under investigation for manslaughter after the football idol died of a heart attack at his home, the Argentinean media reported. IN PICS | Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend The probe was triggered by concerns raised by Maradona's daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana over the treatment he received for his heart condition at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, judicial sources said. Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60 and was buried on Thursday at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital. IN PICS | World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona "Our investigations are ongoing, we are talking to witnesses including members of the family" of Maradona, a source close to the San Isidro inquiry said. According to Dr Luque, He was “unmanageable”, “He should have gone to a rehabilitation centre (after his operation). He didn’t want to, and he didn’t want a therapeutic companion either”. “Do you want to know what I’m responsible for? To have loved him, to have taken care of him, to have prolonged his life, to have improved it until the end”, declared Dr Luque in a televised press conference, between two sobs. Dr Luque, 39, saw himself as “a friend” of Maradona and saw him “as a father, not a patient”. He does not know why there was no heart attack defibrillator at his residence in Tigre, and he did indicate that he was not his attending physician. The Argentine great died after suffering a cardiac arrest in his home in Tigre, Argentina. Maradona was recovering from recent brain surgery to remove a blood clot at the start of November and was accompanied by his nephew, Johnny Esposito, and a nurse. According to a report in The Sun, Maradona completed his breakfast on Wednesday morning and complained of feeling cold before telling his nephew that he was going to lie down as he didn’t feel good. It is being claimed that Maradona, before going to bed, said: “Me Siento mal” - which translates in England to “I don’t feel well”. (With inputs from agencies)

'Diego was unmanageable': Maradona’s doctor charged with manslaughter

'The Greatest’, God, Sachin Tendulkar, Messi- these are names and terms spoken loosely in a defined age beret of true God’s.&nbsp;

The definition of a true God does not fall on us mere mortals because he/she is an idea, something we worship and hope to emulate, a thought which transcends reality.

Born in Argentina in&nbsp;Lanús near Buenos Aires&nbsp;this Maradona was one such God, a man-God. Born in acute poverty who once fell in a cesspool and then touched the heights of fame &amp; glory only to fall again and then quickly disappear before our eyes.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/argentinas-football-legend-diego-maradona-laid-to-rest-in-bella-vista-cemetery-345783/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The obvious flaws &amp; scarred genius was a common trait of this God but then the disciples never complained because on the field it was always Dussehra, Diwali &amp; Christmas put together.

My only ‘real’ memory of angel Maradona was when as a kid I visited a puja pandal&nbsp;and saw him placed next to Durga. It was quite clear he was in fact a Man-God;&nbsp;revered, loved, followed- and hated.

He was not someone who was satisfied with just showing up at Barcelona and filling his boots with awards and glory, the "little genius" took Naples - a little known port city in Italy -&nbsp; and&nbsp;turned them into Italian champions and where he is worshipped till today as a deity for football feats achieved decades ago and he is sure to be celebrated centuries later by kids, men &amp; women.

Men fall like leaves and greatness is intangible, undefined but some of us who have seen God at play can tell the world we lived in the time of the great Maradona and&nbsp;he now resides with the true Gods where he is already busy teaching them the joys of the beautiful game.

Long live Maradona, your legions here on Earth will miss you.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do&nbsp;not represent the views of&nbsp;WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse&nbsp;the views of the writer)

'The Greatest’, God, Sachin Tendulkar, Messi- these are names and terms spoken loosely in a defined age beret of true God’s. The definition of a true God does not fall on us mere mortals because he/she is an idea, something we worship and hope to emulate, a thought which transcends reality.

'The Greatest’, God, Sachin Tendulkar, Messi- these are names and terms spoken loosely in a defined age beret of true God’s. The definition of a true God does not fall on us mere mortals because he/she is an idea, something we worship and hope to emulate, a thought which transcends reality. Born in Argentina in Lanús near Buenos Aires this Maradona was one such God, a man-God. Born in acute poverty who once fell in a cesspool and then touched the heights of fame & glory only to fall again and then quickly disappear before our eyes. Watch: The obvious flaws & scarred genius was a common trait of this God but then the disciples never complained because on the field it was always Dussehra, Diwali & Christmas put together. My only ‘real’ memory of angel Maradona was when as a kid I visited a puja pandal and saw him placed next to Durga. It was quite clear he was in fact a Man-God; revered, loved, followed- and hated. He was not someone who was satisfied with just showing up at Barcelona and filling his boots with awards and glory, the "little genius" took Naples - a little known port city in Italy - and turned them into Italian champions and where he is worshipped till today as a deity for football feats achieved decades ago and he is sure to be celebrated centuries later by kids, men & women. Men fall like leaves and greatness is intangible, undefined but some of us who have seen God at play can tell the world we lived in the time of the great Maradona and he now resides with the true Gods where he is already busy teaching them the joys of the beautiful game. Long live Maradona, your legions here on Earth will miss you. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Diego Maradona: Why the man-God was revered, loved, followed - and hated

The news of Diego Maradona's death left the world in a state of shock on Wednesday night. The iconic player died of a massive heart attack on Wednesday leaving millions of fans across the globe mourning his death.

The news of Diego Maradona's death left the world in a state of shock on Wednesday night. The iconic player died of a massive heart attack on Wednesday leaving millions of fans across the globe mourning his death. Indian actors like like Shah Rukh Khan, Mohanlal, Ranveer Singh, and many others took to social media to pay tribute to the legend. "Diego Maradona....you made football even more beautiful. You will be sorely missed and may you entertain and enthral heaven as you did this world. RIP....(Sic)" wrote SRK. Diego Maradona....you made football even more beautiful. You will be sorely missed and may you entertain and enthral heaven as you did this world. RIP.... pic.twitter.com/PlR2Laxfj2 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 25, 2020 × "Rest in Peace Legend #diegomaradona #Legend(Sic)" wrote Mohanlal. Rest in Peace Legend #diegomaradona #Legend pic.twitter.com/o3Gk1mU3fa — Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) November 26, 2020 × "2020 has indeed been brutal - The 'Hand of God' has taken away Argentinian great Diego Maradona. The football community has been left poorer with his loss. May god give strength to his family and may his soul rest in peace. We will miss you," wrote Prosenjit Chatterjee. 2020 has indeed been brutal - The 'Hand of God' has taken away Argentinian great Diego Maradona. The football community has been left poorer with his loss. May god give strength to his family and may his soul rest in peace. We will miss you pic.twitter.com/2HoL3Chh8O — Prosenjit Chatterjee (@prosenjitbumba) November 25, 2020 × Check out reactions of some other stars here. #RIPMaradona legend! #GOAT — Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) November 25, 2020 × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Kapoor (@arjunkapoor) × View this post on Instagram A post shared by KK (@therealkarismakapoor) × View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANGAD BEDI (@angadbedi) × Farewell legend. 💔#DiegoMaradona RIP! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fVbZ34jmbw — Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) November 25, 2020 × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parambrata Chattopadhyay (@parambratachattopadhyay) × The legendary footballer had been discharged from hospital on November 11 after undergoing a brain surgery. The iconic footballer was to continue treatment for his alcohol dependency and was expected to stay close to where his daughters stay. Maradona died on Wednesday after suffering a massive heart attack. Also read: Confused fans pay tribute to Madonna as legendary footballer Diego Maradona dies

RIP Maradona: Shah Rukh Khan, Mohanlal, Ranveer Singh and others mourn the death of football legend

Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas has urged FIFA to retire the iconic number 10 shirt from the game to honour Argentine great Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack.

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/it-is-very-special-place-diego-maradonas-love-for-kolkata-345485" hreflang="en">'It is very special place': Diego Maradona's love for Kolkata</a>

Maradona's death shocked the football world as he was regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Fans called Maradona 'El Dios' - which means 'The God', but is also a play on words on his number 10 shirt, 'El Diez.'

Maradona is regarded as a legend in Napoli for his glorious Serie A wins. The Italian club has not used the No. 10 jerseys since 2000 to mark respect for the player who guided them to several trophies and Villas-Boas said global soccer body FIFA should also pay tribute by withdrawing the number.

"Maradona, yes it is tough news, I would like FIFA to retire the number 10 shirt in all competitions, for all teams," Villas-Boas told reporters after Marseille's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Porto.

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-cup-winner-napoli-legend-drug-addict-rise-and-fall-of-diego-maradona-345411" hreflang="en">World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona</a>

"It would be the best homage we could do for him. He is an incredible loss for the world of football."&nbsp;

The former Napoli megastar had emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital longer than expected as he was showing withdrawal symptoms for his dependency on alcohol before passing away on Wednesday after a heart attack.

Despite the chaos in his personal, Maradona's god-gifted skills with the ball made him being regarded as arguably the greatest of all-time.&nbsp;

Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas has urged FIFA to retire the iconic number 10 shirt from the game to honour Argentine great Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack.

Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas has urged FIFA to retire the iconic number 10 shirt from the game to honour Argentine great Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. IN PICS| 'It is very special place': Diego Maradona's love for Kolkata Maradona's death shocked the football world as he was regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Fans called Maradona 'El Dios' - which means 'The God', but is also a play on words on his number 10 shirt, 'El Diez.' Maradona is regarded as a legend in Napoli for his glorious Serie A wins. The Italian club has not used the No. 10 jerseys since 2000 to mark respect for the player who guided them to several trophies and Villas-Boas said global soccer body FIFA should also pay tribute by withdrawing the number. "Maradona, yes it is tough news, I would like FIFA to retire the number 10 shirt in all competitions, for all teams," Villas-Boas told reporters after Marseille's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Porto. IN PICS| World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona "It would be the best homage we could do for him. He is an incredible loss for the world of football." The former Napoli megastar had emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital longer than expected as he was showing withdrawal symptoms for his dependency on alcohol before passing away on Wednesday after a heart attack. Despite the chaos in his personal, Maradona's god-gifted skills with the ball made him being regarded as arguably the greatest of all-time.

'Best homage to Maradona': Villas-Boas urges FIFA to retire No. 10

Diego Maradona greeted a new film about his life with scorn on Monday, telling people not to see it when it is released next month.

Posters for the two-hour documentary about the controversial Argentine forward say 'Diego Maradona: Rebel. Hero. Hustler. God.' with the World Cup winner upset at the use of "hustler".

"I played football and I made money running after a ball. I didn't hustle anyone," he told Univision in an interview.

"If they are putting that there to get people to go and see it then I think they are going about it the wrong way. I don't like the title, and if I don't like the title I am not going to like the film. Don't go and see it."

Director Asif Kapadia, who made the award-winning documentaries 'Amy' and 'Senna', had earlier said Maradona had not seen the film and admitted he was interested how the player would react to viewing the finished article.

"We are dealing with archive from way back, there will be lots of images that he himself hasn't seen of himself, of his family, of his kids," Kapadia told Reuters in an interview.

"So I think it's going to be quite emotional for him."

Maradona, who is now coaching in Mexico, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/diego-maradona-to-miss-cannes-2019-film-premiere-after-shoulder-injury-220030">missed the film's premiere at Cannes</a> on Sunday.

Initial reviews were mixed with critics saying the film, which draws on Maradona's personal stock of video, showed colourful scenes but pulled its punches.

"No matter how many newsreels it shows us or how arresting they are, all that grainy reality can't add up to revealing what's inside the man at its centre," said Variety.

The film is due for general release on June 14.

Diego Maradona greeted a new film about his life with scorn on Monday, telling people not to see it when it is released next month. Posters for the two-hour documentary about the controversial Argentine forward say 'Diego Maradona: Rebel.

Diego Maradona greeted a new film about his life with scorn on Monday, telling people not to see it when it is released next month. Posters for the two-hour documentary about the controversial Argentine forward say 'Diego Maradona: Rebel. Hero. Hustler. God.' with the World Cup winner upset at the use of "hustler". "I played football and I made money running after a ball. I didn't hustle anyone," he told Univision in an interview. "If they are putting that there to get people to go and see it then I think they are going about it the wrong way. I don't like the title, and if I don't like the title I am not going to like the film. Don't go and see it." Director Asif Kapadia, who made the award-winning documentaries 'Amy' and 'Senna', had earlier said Maradona had not seen the film and admitted he was interested how the player would react to viewing the finished article. "We are dealing with archive from way back, there will be lots of images that he himself hasn't seen of himself, of his family, of his kids," Kapadia told Reuters in an interview. "So I think it's going to be quite emotional for him." Maradona, who is now coaching in Mexico, missed the film's premiere at Cannes on Sunday. Initial reviews were mixed with critics saying the film, which draws on Maradona's personal stock of video, showed colourful scenes but pulled its punches. "No matter how many newsreels it shows us or how arresting they are, all that grainy reality can't add up to revealing what's inside the man at its centre," said Variety. The film is due for general release on June 14.

Angry at being dubbed a hustler, Maradona dismisses new film

Argentinian football legend Diego Armando Maradona urged Lionel Messi not to follow through on his vow to quit the national team after its defeat in the Copa America Centenario. 
 
&quot;Messi has to stay in the national team. He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him,&quot; Maradona was quoted as saying by the Argentinian online newspaper La Nacion. 
 
&quot;He will go to Russia in form to be world champion&quot; at the 2018 World Cup, he added. 
 
Messi, 29, told reporters in the US he had decided to quit after Argentina&#39;s defeat on penalties to Chile on Sunday. 
 
He is widely rated as the best player in the world, but it was his fourth defeat in an international final with the Argentinian jersey. 
 
The 1986 World Cup winner Maradona, 55, blamed Argentina&#39;s recent lack of trophies on the Argentina Footbal Association. 
 
He accused them of not supporting Messi and letting him take the blame for Sunday&#39;s defeat to cover up their shortcomings in managing the sport. 
 
&quot;The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward,&quot; Maradona was quoted saying. &quot;Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won&#39;t see what a disaster Argentinian football has become,&quot; he added. 
 
(AFP)

El Pibe de Oro urges Lionel Messi to keep playing on the national team and blames the Argentina Football Association for the recent defeats

Argentinian football legend Diego Armando Maradona urged Lionel Messi not to follow through on his vow to quit the national team after its defeat in the Copa America Centenario. "Messi has to stay in the national team. He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him," Maradona was quoted as saying by the Argentinian online newspaper La Nacion. "He will go to Russia in form to be world champion" at the 2018 World Cup, he added. Messi, 29, told reporters in the US he had decided to quit after Argentina's defeat on penalties to Chile on Sunday. He is widely rated as the best player in the world, but it was his fourth defeat in an international final with the Argentinian jersey. The 1986 World Cup winner Maradona, 55, blamed Argentina's recent lack of trophies on the Argentina Footbal Association. He accused them of not supporting Messi and letting him take the blame for Sunday's defeat to cover up their shortcomings in managing the sport. "The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward," Maradona was quoted saying. "Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won't see what a disaster Argentinian football has become," he added. (AFP)

Maradona: Messi has to stay