Iraqis mourned the death of football legend Ahmed Radhi, who passed away on Sunday from complications linked to COVID-19.
Prominent political, cultural and sports figures and social media users mourned the national football team player who passed away in al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad. His death comes a few weeks after former international player Ali Hadi also passed away from the disease.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said Radhi passed away while wearing the national team’s green jersey, offering his condolences to his family.
On June 16, Radhi was admitted to hospital after testing positive for the novel coronavirus. A hospital medical source revealed that he was suffering from shortness of breath. He was discharged from after improving, but then suffered a relapse four days ago, forcing him to be readmitted.
Had suffered from years from respiratory problems, which were compounded by COVID-19.
Radhi is a legend in Iraq and is the only player from his country to score a goal at the FIFA World Cup – against Belgium in 1986.
Born in Baghdad in 1964, he started his career in 1982 by joining the Al-Zawraa Sports Club where he won five league titles. Radhi, a striker, led Iraq to victory in the Gulf Cups of 1984 and 1988, when he was voted Asian footballer of the year. He joined Al-Wakrah SC in 1993.
In his later years, he was elected to parliament in 2008.
His death brought Iraq’s coronavirus tally to more than 1,000 from among 30,000 patients.
