‘Diego Maradona was Kobe Bryant’s idol’: How there was mutual respect between Lakers legend and football great

Two greats of their games who passed away this year shared a lot of love – Kobe Bryant and Diego Maradona.

This year has taken a toll on all of us. It started with wildfires, then a potential world war, and then a tiny virus.. This tiny virus had all of us locked inside of our houses for a good part of the year.

2020 also took from us two of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. We lost Kobe Bryant back in January in a helicopter crash. Earlier this week we got the sad news that football legend Diego Maradona has passed away.

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Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant always had love and respect for each other. When Kobe retired back in 2016, Maradona sent a beautiful message for the Black Mamba. He thanked Kobe for his 20 year-long beautiful career with the Los Angeles Lakers. “Thanks for the magic,” Maradona told Kobe in 2016.

“Maradona is my idol. I love Maradona”: Kobe Bryant

A few years ago Kobe Bryant shared his fondness for the Argentinian football legend. Kobe said he grew up watching Maradona play football.

Maradona was Kobe’s idol. pic.twitter.com/bTvVCyx5Ig

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 25, 2020

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Maradona and Kobe shared a special bond with each other. Earlier this year, when Kobe Bryant passed away, Maradona took to his Instagram to pay his respects to Kobe and the Bryant family.

 

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A post shared by Diego Maradona (@maradona)

Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant were both legends in their sports. Unfortunately, this year took both of them from us. Even though they both may have left us, but the mark they made on the world and on their respective sports will not be forgotten for a very long time to come.