30 sports stars we lost in 2020: From Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant to Paolo Rossi and Gerard Houllier

Diego Maradona's death last month shook the world of sport in a year which began with the tragic loss of basketball hero Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash. Maradona's death brought Argentina to a standstill and caused a wave of grief in his adopted home of Naples . He brought joy to the southern Italian city by leading unfashionable Napoli to two Serie A titles and the 1989 Uefa Cup. The passing of Maradona, who dragged Argentina to glory at the 1986 World Cup where he scored the 'Goal of the Century' against England – as well as the infamous 'Hand of God' goal, led to three days of national mourning in his home country. Bryant was killed in January alongside his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles that also took the lives of seven other people. LA Lakers great Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school. He was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, helping spark the US squad to titles in 2008 and 2012. Maradona and Bryant were just two of the high-profile sports stars who died in 2020. For some of the other stars who left us, including Italian football legends Paolo Rossi, England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, and Formula One great Stirling Moss, see the gallery above.

30 sports stars we lost in 2020: From Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant to Paolo Rossi and Gerard Houllier

Remembering the giants of the sporting world who passed away this year