Gheorghe Hagi was a Romanian playmaker of dazzling gifts, a left-footed magician whose vision, dribbling and long-range shooting earned him the title Maradona of the Carpathians. He was the creative heart of Romania’s finest team, illuminating the 1994 World Cup with moments of brilliance.
His career took him to both Real Madrid and Barcelona before he found a lasting home at Galatasaray, where he became an idol and inspired the club to a UEFA Cup triumph. Mercurial and match-winning, he remained the greatest footballer his country produced.