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Diego Maradona’s death last month shook the world of sport in a year which began with the tragic loss of basketball hero Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash.
Diego Maradona, 60
Maradona’s death brought Argentina to a standstill and caused a wave of grief in his adopted home of Naples. He brought joy to the southern Italian city by leading unfashionable Napoli to two Serie A titles and the 1989 UEFA Cup.
The passing of Maradona, who dragged Argentina to glory at the 1986 World Cup where he scored the ‘Goal of the Century’ against England — as well as the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal, led to three days of national mourning in his home country.
Kobe Bryant, 41
Bryant was killed in January alongside his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles that also took the lives of seven other people.
LA Lakers icon Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school.
He was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, helping spark the US squad to titles in 2008 and 2012.
Paolo Rossi, 64
Rossi is a national hero in Italy for firing the ‘Azzurri’ to World Cup triumph in 1982.
He finished the tournament as top scorer after scoring six goals, including a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over flamboyant Brazil, both goals against Poland in the semi-finals and the opener in the final win over West Germany.
‘Pablito’ only played in Spain after returning from a ban for his part in the betting scandal.
