BUENOS AIRES, April 22: Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona was no longer in a critical condition after being rushed to hospital on Sunday apparently at death's door with heart and breathing problems.

His personal doctor Alfredo Cahe told local radio the 43-year-old appeared to have pulled through and that within 72 hours he could be taken off a respirator. Maradona was admitted to the Swiss-Argentine clinic on Sunday but Cahe has refused say if his problems were drug-related.

He became addicted to cocaine during a seven year spell, 1984-91, with Italian side Napoli. Fans had been keeping vigil outside the clinic. His roller-coaster career, which included 34 goals in 91 matches for Argentina, began in 1975 and ended in 1997.

He led Argentina to their second World Cup in 1986 after winning a controversial quarter-final against England, when he scored his "Hand of God" goal by fisting the ball over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton's outstretched hands. -AFP