Chavez said earlier Thursday, "I am off to lunch with Maradona." Later, state television showed the football idol in a friendly embrace with Chavez.

The 1986 World Cup champion was in Venezuela to officiate the opening of the Sudamericano Sub-17 tournament, which opens Friday in Maracaibo 500 kilometers (300 miles) west of Caracas.

Maradona, who is also close to Cuban President Fidel Castro, said he left the lunch "enamored" with the Venezuelan leader.

On Tuesday, Maradona attended a summit meeting of Chavez, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Chavez called Maradona "a friend and a revolutionary."

"He is the best footballer in the world," Chavez said. "I am happy to see him and to see him recovering. He has dropped almost 15 kilograms (33 pounds)."