Yesterday was a sad one for Argentina, when legendary football hero Diego Maradona died at the age of just 60.

Even though he had his problems after his playing days were over, including drugs and health problems, all that is at least temporarily forgotten in the outpouring of love and grief here in Argentina and around the world. The President has declared three days of national mourning, which I thought was just a formality until I saw what was happening all across the country.

I remember watching him in his heyday, when I had no inkling I would ever have a connection with Argentina. My husband and I enjoyed watching him speed down the field, faster than the cartoon Roadrunner, and that left foot — Felix swore he could kick round corners!

Of course, one of his most famous matches was in the 1986 World Cup quarter final, when Argentina beat England 2-1. Both goals were scored by Maradona. The second one was brilliant. The first, well … not so much. It was clearly punched into the net but the ref didn’t see it. It’s known as the Hand of God goal. Of course it knocked England out of the Cup that year, which probably explains this cartoon that was sent to me by my nephew in Scotland! OK, I now see it’s too small to read the caption. It says, “Sure, the English may very well hate me, but the Scottish love me and that’s all that matters!” HaHa!

Anyway, a million people are expected downtown, thousands filing around his casket as he lies in state at the Presidential Palace. What social distancing? Virus — what virus?