Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi join calls to resume search for Emiliano Sala

Argentina football icons Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona have added to calls for the search for the missing plane carrying Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala to be resumed.

Argentina football icons Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona

Police from the Channel Island of Guernsey called off the search for Sala and pilot David Ibbotson yesterday, prompting calls from across football for it to be resumed.

Messi and Maradona both posted social media messages in support of the cause to find their fellow Argentinian, before Cardiff ‑ who signed Sala in a STG 15million ($A28 million) deal last Friday ‑ urged the authorities to resume the search for the missing plane and its occupants.

Sala's former French club Nantes reacted with anger at the decision to formally call off the search as the striker's sister begged rescue workers to keep looking for the plane.

Meanwhile, Cardiff's players will wear yellow daffodils on their shirts when they take on Arsenal in the English Premier League on Wednesday in respect of Sala.

[Source: TVNZ]