Football legend Diego Maradona visited the Oxford Union and spoke about his love of the game.

The world-famous Oxford University debating chamber invited the Argentinian international to speak in 1995.

Maradona, the midfield linchpin of the Argentina side that won the 1986 World Cup and former national team manager, had successful surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain in a Buenos Aires hospital earlier this month.

His personal physician Dr Leopoldo Luque said the early signs were “favourable”, but it has been reported that Maradona suffered a fatal heart attack at his home on Wednesday.

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The Oxford Union has played host to many famous names over the years but securing the visit of Maradona was an achievement at the time.

Oxford Mail:

With a distinctive blond streak dyed into hair, Maradona kept his audience entertained with stories illustrating his love for the game.

With the help of a translator he told invited guests in the debating chamber that he was 'born on a football pitch in the 1960s with a football secured between his teeth and the Argentinian national team on his back'.

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He added: "I come from a humble shanty town on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It was on this little field that I began to practise, in friendly neighbourhood games between friends.

"'Football player' - I would dream in those days - what awesome words they were - I became obsessed by them. These words were I knew my goal, my destiny, what I wanted to be when I grew up."

Maradona went on to tell students about the important relationship between players and the fans.

He added: "All the famous players back then were my idols.

"I could not understand how they could entertain thousands of people weekend after weekend and still be themselves.

"I was always absorbed by the wonders they worked with the ball - I was thrilled when they waved to the fans or scored a goal."

Maradona said football gave him "such as rush of joy as it did to all the fans".

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"This rush was provoked by something that indeed I can't really explain," he added.

Maradona, one of the world's greatest players, is remembered by many for his 'hand of God goal' against England in the quarter finals of the 1986 World Cup at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

Argentina won the game 2-1, thanks to a second goal by Maradona dubbed 'goal of the century'.