Funeral cortage for Argentinean soccer star Diego Armando Maradona.

2020 is going down in history as one of the years that has posed the greatest danger for humanity and now, in addition to intense natural phenomena and the COVID-19 pandemic, it took away someone who made a difference in the lives of millions for several generations: Argentinean soccer star Diego Armando Maradona.

His legacy as a brilliant footballer impressed both fans and some unsympathetic to this sport, according  to specialists in the fiel

We might recall an analysis made about his playing techniques many years ago that highlighted Maradona's skills with the ball could only be explained if he had a prehensile left foot, which allowed him to take the ball and place it wherever he wanted.

However, we will emphasize Diego’s features as a human being, not separated from the sportsman because they are the same, just as the artist is unable to explain himself if not through his art.

The outstanding writer Eduardo Galeano provided a definition of him as "the most human of gods" -- that is, a deity very similar to us, with his virtues and flaws, with successes and mistakes, who never disregarded the earthly.

Born in a humble home, he found stardom, which Galeano termed “exitoin" -- a destructive drug, which made him pay the price, but always remembering his origins, and as passionate as in the field, he advocated for the noble causes of the world.

A great friend of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, he was always part of this island nation, which welcomed him as its son and celebrated or cried his successes or setbacks.

An indomitable defender of the rights the Palestinian people, the sovereignty of Venezuela -- where he declared himself a soldier of President Nicolás Maduro -- of the process of changes achieved by Evo Morales in Bolivia, Maradona became a citizen of the world.

That is why leaders all over the planet mourn his passing, that by all means seems to be premature.  Among them are the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz Canel, and his counterpart from Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who declared that Diego never gave up his ideals.

Also governors and former presidents from Italy, Spain, Brazil and, of course, Argentina lamented his physical disappearance.

On the soccer field, as in the current global scenario, where sometimes the opposing team tries to impose the rules, Maradona did not back down.  With his strengths and weaknesses, he left behind an example for everyone.