BAGHDAD – Ahmed Radhi , the most famous Iraqi footballer of all time and author of the only goal of the national team at a world championship, died of the coronavirus at the age of 56.
The ex-attacker passed away in Baghdad hospital a few hours before an extreme attempt to transfer him to Jordan for treatment.
Radhi had dragged Iraq to conquer the Gulf Cup in 1984 and 1988, when he was voted Asia's best footballer.
At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico he scored his goal against Belgium, which remains the only goal of the Asian national team in a world championship. Iraq was defeated 2-1 and eliminated from the competition with zero points.
In 2006 he left the country for Jordan after the Olympic Committee lost its independence due to sectarian violence but returned to Iraq the following year to attempt a political career by entering parliament instead of a killed deputy.
In 2014 and 2018, however, he was unable to get elected after running for the National Alliance, a coalition of
Shiite and Sunni figures.
The news of his death was greeted with great emotion in the country: "Unmatched athlete and son of Iraq" called him the new Minister of Sport, Adnan Darjal , also a former football player. (Source: Agi).
Source: Blitz Quotidiano