Thousands gathered in downtown Buenos Aires on Thursday (November 26) to pay tribute to soccer legend Diego Maradona, who has died aged 60.

Boisterous fans chanted and waved flags at the foot of the Obelisk the day after it was announced Argentina's World Cup-winning captain had died from a heart attack.

The crowd gathered in spite of COVID restrictions.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of Maradona fans at the Obelisk (downtown Buenos Aires)

STORYLINE:

Buenos Aires erupted in applause on Wednesday night, as porteños paid tribute to the late Diego Armando Maradona.

Clapping hands, car horns, sirens, cheers and songs could be heard, while football stadiums across the country were light up at 10pm, in tribute to the legendary number 10.

Maradona, the legendary footballer, passed away Wednesday at around midday at his home near Tigre, after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 60.

"We applaud at 10 at night, applause for the 10.," read a message that circulated on social media calling on Argentines to honour Maradona and his achievements.

"He deserves a last applause," it continued.

As the minute arrived, applause could be heard in neighbourhoods across the capital.

At Argentinos Juniors' stadium, which is named after the Albiceleste legend and was where he began his footballing career, fireworks were let off in celebration of his life. Around 1,000 people took to the pitch to lead the applause, continuing to sing for well over half an hour.

Large crowds also gathered at La Bombenera, the mythical home of Boca Juniors, another club associated for years with Maradona.

Perhaps the largest crowd was seen at the famous Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires, where thousands of fans gathered to pay tribute to Diego and celebrate his life, in spite of restrictions put in place to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in Argentina.