Maradona death: China’s football dreams have changed since days of Diego, between Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping
- Deng Xiaoping’s desire to bring Argentine great seemed borne of love of the game, Xi Jinping’s World Cup dream less so
- China’s emergence as a soft power in the sport has shown how the world game has become tool of globalisation
It might seem odd to those who remember the excesses and the air rifles and everything that made Diego Maradona a flawed man, but the footballer most represents the purity of the game, a quality that has been tarnished ever further in recent years.
Looking at the scenes across the world, from Buenos Aires to Beijing, there has been a collective outpouring of grief for the footballer, who often seemed more than that.
Fans in China’s capital flocked to the Argentine embassy to pay their respects with a makeshift shrine to Maradona on the pavement outside.
In nearby Tianjin, the Tianjin Tower was lit up with the image of a player who lit up the pitch and the hearts of many, as proven by the messages on social media in China and elsewhere.
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Chinese fans pay last respects to legendary footballer, Diego Maradona
“He had such an incredible passion for the game,” former England striker Gary Lineker said of a player he has long been awed by. “I’ve never seen anyone have such a beautiful affection with a football.”