INTERNATIONAL: Hundreds of fans paid tribute to soccer great Diego Maradona on Thursday, on the one-year anniversary of his death as Naples unveiled a statue of the Argentine world champion in front of the stadium named after him.

Soccer lovers gathered in front of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, formerly named Stadio San Paolo, to remember the Argentina soccer legend, widely regarded as one of the game's greatest ever players and in Naples seen as a god.

Chanting "there is only one Maradona" the fans lit flares and candles next to the statue of the soccer legend.

Maradona, known as 'Pelusa' for his once flowing mane and 'D10S' - a play on the word for 'God' in Spanish and his famous no. 10 jersey - died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60 due to cardiac arrest.

Born in a humble neighbourhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Maradona became an icon to many in Argentina and around the world.

He moved to Napoli in 1984 for a then world-record $7.5 million contract, becoming a cult hero in Naples where he helped drive an underdog team to domestic and European glory.

The player has been immortalised with murals and statues, as well as tattoos and children - boys and girls - have been named after him.

The city is practically a shrine to the soccer star, with Napoli soccer shirts adorned with his name filling street vendors and in the famous Spanish Quarter murals and posters of him plaster all the walls.

^{PHOTO: STATUE OF SOCCER GREAT DIEGO MARADONA OUTSIDE STADIUM IN NAPLES, HUNDREDS OF FANS GATHERING AND CHANTING TO HONOUR HIM ON ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH}