Diego Maradona says 'I am fine' after World Cup health scare

Argentine legend Diego Maradona says he is fine after igniting a health scare following Argentina's spectacular late 2-1 win against Nigeria that saw them qualify to the last 16 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018.

Maradona had been full of emotions during Argentina's last group match in Saint Petersburg, which was a must win for the La Albiceleste to stay alive in the tournament.

The scorer of the infamous 'Hand of God' goal leaned over the front the front of the VIP box from where he was watching the game with friends and made an obscene gesture following Marcos Rojo's 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.

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!

A post shared by Diego Maradona Oficial (@maradona) on Jun 26, 2018 at 7:20pm PDT

A video surfaced online showing the 1986 World Cup winner looking dazed.

He walked dizzily and was guided into the dining room of the VIP section by two friends before sitting down in the chair.

"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?"

The paramedics checked Maradona's blood pressure but the star refused all other assistance, a medical source told Russia's RIA Novosti state news agency.