Football: Diego Maradona's final interview just weeks before his tragic death

Diego Maradona died at the age of 60. Photo / Photosport

Diego Maradona, considered by many to be the greatest footballer who ever lived, certainly lived life to the full – but his final interview showed he still feared he wouldn't always be loved.

Maradona died at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest, two weeks after being released from a Buenos Aires hospital following brain surgery.

The office of Argentina's president will decree three days of national mourning because of Maradona's death, and the football world has collectively expressed its sorrow at the passing of a legend of the game.

Days before being taken ill on his 60th birthday on October 30, Maradona gave what would be his final interview to Argentinean newspaper Clarin.

During the open and honest interview, he admitted that he sometimes wondered "if people will still love me" prior to returning to football as manager of Argentinean club Gimnasia.

Diego Maradona died at the age of 60. Photo / Photosport

He ultimately realised he "felt that love with people is never going to end" in what proved to be his final years.

"I am going to be eternally grateful to the people. Every day they surprise me, what I experienced in this return to Argentine football I will never forget," he said in quotes translated by the Daily Mirror.

"It exceeded what I could imagine. Because I was out for a long time and sometimes I wonder if people will still love me, if they will continue to feel the same.

"When I entered the field in Gimnasia on the day of the presentation I felt that love with people is never going to end."

Asked if he had any regrets, he said: "Soccer gave me everything I have, more than I ever imagined. And if I hadn't had that addiction, I could have played a lot more.

"But today that is past, I am fine and what I regret the most is not having my parents.

"Always make that wish, one more day with Tota but I know that from heaven she is proud of me and that she was very happy."

When asked about his beloved Argentina, Maradona said he hopes the country can move forward from the pandemic which has hit the South American nation hard.

"My wish is that this pandemic passes as soon as possible and that my Argentina can move forward.

"I want all Argentines to be well, we have a beautiful country and I trust that our President will be able to get us out of this moment.

"It makes me very sad when I see children who do not have enough to eat, I know what it is to go hungry, I know what it feels like to feel when you do not eat for several days and that cannot happen in my country.

"That is my wish, to see the Argentines happy, with work and eating every day."