Argentines pray for favorite son
By Charles Froggatt for CNN
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- Argentines are continuing a vigil outside the hospital where Diego Maradona is being treated for heart and blood pressure problems.
Only two of the four lanes outside the Suizo-Argentina clinic, in the exclusive Barrio Norte district of Buenos Aires, are in use as crowds and journalists gather underneath the window of the room where the football legend remains in intensive care.
Behind coffee salesmen, cameramen and well-wishers, the walls and windows of the clinic are covered in posters, flags and home made banners with messages for the stricken 43-year-old.
Across the street, the scene resembles something from the terraces of the Bombanera stadium, the home of Maradona's beloved Boca Juniors.
Football fans dressed in Boca shirts and Maradona memorabilia look up to the Argentine World Cup winner's private room while jumping up and down and chanting the songs that inspired Maradona in his playing days.
"The Argentine people are with you, you are still even bigger than Pele," they chanted -- a reference to the Brazilian player who is Maradona's only rival for the title of greatest footballer ever.
Others were taking Maradona's condition more seriously, clutching Rosaries and collectively praying for his survival. The former player has already endured one serious heart attack following a cocaine overdose in 2000.
"We have come to ask for a miracle. Maradona is the finest thing in Argentina and we don't want to lose him," said housewife Clara Moreno, 57, who had traveled for more than eight hours to be there.
"I adore him. He is the best thing that has ever existed here. God helped me when I was ill, and now he will help Diego. I keep telling the guys here to stop singing because it does not help, but to pray for him," she added.
Biggest and best
"He is the biggest and best. I could not imagine it if he died. If he died Argentina would be in trouble," said Luciano Romero, wearing an Argentine football shirt that he claimed was a gift from Maradona himself after he had written him a poem.
The signed blue and white striped shirt said: "To Luciano with love," and on the back: "the number 10 is mine."
The 25-year-old student had also brought his latest poem entitled "Letter to Maradona" to add to the wall of tributes to his hero.
"I've just come from university to give Diego some support," said 24-year-old agronomy student Facundo.
"Maradona means more to Argentines than all other powerful figures. He has the courage to say what politicians can't. If he was to die, he would never be dead in the hearts of the people."
"It is a sad day for the people, but we all still think he will survive. Argentina needs him," said Segundo Perez as he drank beer.
"Look at how Maradona makes us feel," he added, pointing to a crowd of dozens of people dancing and singing in the street.
