Carlo Ancelotti says Argentina genius Diego Maradona was impossible to contain at the height of his powers.

Maradona, who died on Wednesday, achieved demigod status in his homeland after inspiring Argentina’s 1986 World Cup success in Mexico.

He is similarly idolised by followers of Napoli for a colossal impact which won the club its only two Italian championships.

Everton manager Ancelotti was a regular opponent in pivotal Serie A matches.

Ancelotti moved to AC Milan from Roma in 1987 following a season when Maradona's individual brilliance led Napoli to their first title.

Milan prevented Napoli from regaining their crown by a three-point margin the following 1987/88 season.

But Maradona, as was his way, gained revenge in 1989/90, when Napoli – who were runners-up to Inter in the intervening season – finished two points in front of Milan to reclaim their title.

“Maradona was a fantastic player, the best player on the planet at that time,” Ancelotti told evertontv.

“He came to Napoli and Napoli became the toughest opponent when I was with Milan.

 
“We fought for the title… Napoli with Maradona was able to win the title and he was unstoppable.

“I played against him a lot of times – sometimes I was not able to stop him.

“I tried to kick him, sometimes, but he was so, so strong and so fast.

“I have fantastic memories of him.

“If, sometimes, I was not correct with him, he was always composed, he never shouted.

“We were opponents for a long time but the memory I keep is that he never complained on the pitch.

“At the end of our careers, I met him two or three times.

“He was a really funny guy, a really good man.

“Of course, he had a very intense life.

“But he was – and still will be – a legend of football."

Maradona left Boca Juniors for Barcelona after the 1982 World Cup in Spain and had two successful years at the Nou Camp before transferring to Napoli.

He rocketed to global fame at the World Cup in 1986, carrying what was perceived as an otherwise ordinary Argentina team on his square shoulders.

 
Maradona scored five times in the tournament, including the quarter-final goal against England popularly considered the best in World Cup history.

He courted controversy, too, with his 'Hand of God' goal in the same match.

At the 1990 competition, Maradona’s Argentina overcame hosts Italy – for whom Ancelotti was an unused substitute – to reach the final, where they were beaten by Germany.

He finished his playing career back with Boca in 1997 and managed Argentina at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Maradona scored 34 goals in 91 appearances in a 17-year international career.

In 491 club games – he began with Argentinos Juniors and between leaving Napoli in 1991 and returning to Boca four years later played for Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys – scored 259 times.

“He had fantastic ability, he was fast and quick in small spaces,” said Ancelotti.

“This creativity he had on the pitch gave him the possibility to be the best.

“His specific characteristic was to use his body really well to cover the ball.

“He was unstoppable one-against-one and a fantastic finisher.

“You had to be a compact team [to have a chance of limiting him] and not give him space to move and show his quality.

“He was, at that time, the only player able to win games alone and he did it a lot of times.

“He won the World Cup in ’86, alone."

Ancelotti managed Napoli for 18 months until his exit in December last year, so saw close-up the fervour Maradona stirred among the club’s supporters.

The mayor of Naples declared a day of mourning following Maradona’s death at the age of 60.

Argentina began three days of national mourning on Thursday.

“Napoli loves Maradona,” said Ancelotti.

"With Maradona, they had the best period in the history of the club.

“They won the title and spent two or three years with him in heaven.

“Maradona brought the Napoli supporters to heaven.

“You cannot say who was the best, Maradona or Pele, but they are both legends.

“They helped football be more important in the world.”