<p class="title">Diego Maradona roared and gesticulated through every anguished second of Argentina's rollercoaster World Cup victory over Nigeria before triggering an alarm with a health scare after the final whistle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lionel Messi may have dominated the on-field action in Saint Petersburg, but from his VIP box in the stands, Maradona reigned supreme as the undisputed centre of attention.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 57-year-old football legend started the evening dancing playfully with a female Nigeria fan, saluting and waving to well-wishers applauding him in the moments before kick-off.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Throughout Argentina's nerve-shredding 2-1 victory, which secured the South American giants' passage into the last 16, the host broadcaster television feed regularly cut to images of Maradona as the tension mounted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Messi gave Argentina the lead early in the first half, Maradona screamed his delight, crossing his hands across his chest and gazing to the heavens.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 1986 World Cup-winner looked increasingly frazzled as the game wore on, at one stage slumped forward in his seat just before half-time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After Nigeria made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after the break -- a scoreline that would have sent Argentina crashing out of the tournament -- Maradona grew increasingly distraught.</p>.<p class="bodytext">By the 80th minute, he sat with his hands covering his face, unable to watch as the seconds ticked towards a footballing calamity for Argentina.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Yet when Marcos Rojo swept in a sumptuous volley with four minutes remaining, Maradona exploded with emotion, shouting an obscene insult before raising the middle finger of each hand in the direction of the pitch.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Cocaine addiction</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">But the jubilation turned to alarm soon after the final whistle when a video emerged on social media of Maradona walking with difficulty and being guided into the dining room of the VIP section by two friends.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other photographs showed two uniformed paramedics attending to him, with one appearing to take his pulse.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Argentina media reported that Maradona had suffered a spike in his blood pressure. Argentinian newspaper Ole later reported that Maradona was able to walk and had gone to his hotel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona has had a series of health problems, including cocaine addiction. In 2007 he reportedly came close to death after being admitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires to be treated for hepatitis and substance abuse.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As images of him being treated by paramedics went viral late last night, some commentators expressed concern about his health.</p>.<p class="bodytext">English former footballer turned broadcaster Stan Collymore said he believed it was time Maradona "took a break from football."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The guy had serious heart issues years ago, yet FIFA and sponsors keep indulging him and he himself," Collymore wrote on Twitter, above a widely shared image of Maradona being tended to by paramedics.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Whatever you think of him, anyone deserves decent health," Collymore added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BBC broadcaster Mark Chapman said Maradona's plight was "sad."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Maradona was the greatest footballer of my youth," Chapman wrote on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Now he appears to be the joke cutaway of choice for tv directors. Not that he helps himself but sad."</p>
<p class="title">Diego Maradona roared and gesticulated through every anguished second of Argentina's rollercoaster World Cup victory over Nigeria before triggering an alarm with a health scare after the final whistle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lionel Messi may have dominated the on-field action in Saint Petersburg, but from his VIP box in the stands, Maradona reigned supreme as the undisputed centre of attention.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 57-year-old football legend started the evening dancing playfully with a female Nigeria fan, saluting and waving to well-wishers applauding him in the moments before kick-off.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Throughout Argentina's nerve-shredding 2-1 victory, which secured the South American giants' passage into the last 16, the host broadcaster television feed regularly cut to images of Maradona as the tension mounted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Messi gave Argentina the lead early in the first half, Maradona screamed his delight, crossing his hands across his chest and gazing to the heavens.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 1986 World Cup-winner looked increasingly frazzled as the game wore on, at one stage slumped forward in his seat just before half-time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After Nigeria made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after the break -- a scoreline that would have sent Argentina crashing out of the tournament -- Maradona grew increasingly distraught.</p>.<p class="bodytext">By the 80th minute, he sat with his hands covering his face, unable to watch as the seconds ticked towards a footballing calamity for Argentina.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Yet when Marcos Rojo swept in a sumptuous volley with four minutes remaining, Maradona exploded with emotion, shouting an obscene insult before raising the middle finger of each hand in the direction of the pitch.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Cocaine addiction</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">But the jubilation turned to alarm soon after the final whistle when a video emerged on social media of Maradona walking with difficulty and being guided into the dining room of the VIP section by two friends.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other photographs showed two uniformed paramedics attending to him, with one appearing to take his pulse.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Argentina media reported that Maradona had suffered a spike in his blood pressure. Argentinian newspaper Ole later reported that Maradona was able to walk and had gone to his hotel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona has had a series of health problems, including cocaine addiction. In 2007 he reportedly came close to death after being admitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires to be treated for hepatitis and substance abuse.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As images of him being treated by paramedics went viral late last night, some commentators expressed concern about his health.</p>.<p class="bodytext">English former footballer turned broadcaster Stan Collymore said he believed it was time Maradona "took a break from football."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The guy had serious heart issues years ago, yet FIFA and sponsors keep indulging him and he himself," Collymore wrote on Twitter, above a widely shared image of Maradona being tended to by paramedics.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Whatever you think of him, anyone deserves decent health," Collymore added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BBC broadcaster Mark Chapman said Maradona's plight was "sad."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Maradona was the greatest footballer of my youth," Chapman wrote on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Now he appears to be the joke cutaway of choice for tv directors. Not that he helps himself but sad."</p>