Diego Maradona 'fine' after being seen by doctor during World Cup match

Published on: 27 June 2018

Diego Maradona has been at all of Argentina's 2018 World Cup games

Argentina legend Diego Maradona said he was "fine" after being seen by a doctor during the team's World Cup victory over Nigeria on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, said his "neck hurt a lot".

Maradona posted a picture on social media showing medical staff with him at half-time of the 2-1 victory, but denied he had been taken to hospital.

"I want to tell everyone that I am fine," his Instagram post read.

"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?"

Argentina's victory meant they reached the last 16, where they will face France on Saturday.

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Highlights: Nigeria 1-2 Argentina

Video posted online appeared to show Maradona struggling to get up from his seat at full-time but BBC Sport has learned he later boarded a flight back to Moscow.

Earlier, he was in tears when the score was 1-1, which would have resulted in Argentina's elimination.

Then, after Marcos Rojo scored the team's late winner, he was seen giving one-fingered gestures.

Maradona played 91 times for Argentina, scoring 34 goals, and later managed the national side.

Source: bbc.com

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