You only have to read the Argentine press this Thursday morning to imagine the shock wave caused by the death of Diego Maradona in Argentina. To the ones usually divided between the hard criticism of power – if the newspaper is in the opposition – or its fierce defense – if the title is official -, succeeds this November 26 a concert of printed farewells that pay unanimous tribute to the legend round ball, «Gamin en or» became a god during his lifetime in his native land. “Goodbye, forever”, cry for example Age, the regional newspaper of the province Corrientes (northeast); “1960-Infinite”, claims for eternity the daily sports Ole ; “No one will ever be able to equal him”, proudly displays the centrist daily Clarion, who is celebrating his 75th birthday this year, while struggling to believe the news of the brutal death, at the age of 60, of the eternal captain of the albiceleste selection. “Diego is dead. Maradona is dead. Yeah, moron. Maradona is dead ”, Martín Voogd thus writes in an editorial worthy of the Coué method.
The “immortal” myth and legend
The attempt at self-persuasion is at the height of the national turmoil which in a few moments made Argentinians switch from disbelief to sadness. “I don’t want this pain in my heart”, title nevertheless Page 12. As if it was necessary to immediately fill the “empty” left by the disappearance of “Number 10”. “Diego Armando Maradona has spread joy to millions of Argentines. Few images also give such a strong idea of argentinity as that of Diego lifting the cup during the 1986 World Cup, advance the daily left. Her body and soul have left us, exhausted by her way of life. But the exceptional and irreplaceable player, the captain of the Argentinian selection, world champion in Mexico City in 86, the myth and legend, the pride of the Argentine people are immortal. “
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More or less in the same terms, the newspaper the nation celebrates the universality of a destiny steeped in “generosity”. “Thank you, champion”, the conservative daily is moved on its front page which sports the black mourning ribbon – three days of national mourning were immediately decreed by President Alberto Fernández. And to emphasize: “If football is universal, so is Maradona because Maradona and football are now synonymous. But, at the same time, he was unequivocal Argentinian, which explains the emotional power he has always had in our country and which made him go unpunished. A man who, by virtue of his genius, had no limits since adolescence and who, by virtue of his origin, grew up with a pride of class. “ Farewell to immensity as only Carlos Gardel, Eva Perón or Ernesto Che Guevara have experienced in the Latin American country and beyond its borders.
Florian Bardou
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