London, Nov 4 (ANI): Slumdog-style street kids in Calcutta blew their entire life savings on a giant cake to celebrate football idol Diego Maradona's 49th birthday - only for him to not touch a crumb.

The Indian youngsters splashed out 200 pounds on the 4ft- high cake in his honour. They started saving up all the cash they had begged from passers-by for the gift after hearing the Argentina manager was coming to visit on the same day he was 49.

They even decorated it in the coach's national team colours of pale blue and white in tribute to his genius on the pitch when he was the best player in the world.

However, the star - on a charity visit to India - refused to try even a mouthful of the treat, claiming to be on a strict diet to regain his playing physique.

"It was quite rude really. These children literally have nothing but the clothes on their backs," the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.

"But they managed to put together all that money to get Maradona a really impressive birthday cake.

"He took one look at it and said no. He could have had at least one bite. It wouldn't have killed him, or affected his diet. It would have meant a lot to those kids," the source added.

Fan Kamal Akash, 12, said: "It was fantastic to see our hero. We would have liked him to have had some cake." (ANI)