Diego Maradona says he is fine after sparking a health scare following Argentina’s dramatic late win against Nigeria that saw them progress to the last 16 of the World Cup. Maradona had been visibly emotional during the match in Saint Petersburg, which Argentina had to win to stay in the tournament. He leaned over the front of the VIP box from where he was watching with friends and made an obscene gesture after Marcos Rojo scored a late winner.

“I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not and was not hospitalised,” the 57-year-old wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. A video emerged showing the 1986 World Cup winner looking dazed. He walked with difficulty and was guided into the dining room of the VIP section by two friends before sitting down in a chair.

Castellano | Italiano | Inglés Quiero contarles que estoy bien, que no estoy ni estuve internado. En el entretiempo del partido con Nigeria me dolía mucho la nuca y sufrí una descompensación. Me revisó un médico y me recomendó que me fuera a casa antes del segundo tiempo, pero yo quise quedarme porque nos estábamos jugando todo. ¿Cómo me iba a ir? Les mando un beso a todos, perdón por el susto y gracias por el aguante, hay Diego para rato! Voglio solo dirvi che sto bene, che non sono e non sono stato ricoverato. Durante l'intervallo della partita con la Nigeria ho avuto un forte dolore alla nuca e un mancamento. Un medico mi ha visitato e mi ha consigliato di tornare a casa prima del secondo tempo, ma ho deciso di rimanere perché ci stavamo giocando il tutto per tutto. Come sarei potuto andarmene? Un bacio a tutti e grazie per il supporto... Diego ci sarà ancora per un bel po'! I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not, neither was I interned. In the halftime of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a decompensation. I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all. How could I leave? I send a kiss to everyone, thanks for the support!

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“At half-time against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a drop in my blood pressure,” he said. “I was checked by a doctor and he recommended that I go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all,” he wrote. “How could I leave?”

A medical source told Russia’s RIA Novosti state news agency that paramedics checked Maradona’s blood pressure but that the star refused all other assistance.