Diego Armando Maradona

Most of the well-known football players of the world have the same origin. They are born in poor families and have to go through difficult economic situations. They see football as a professional and profitable activity which can save them and their families from poverty. Unfortunately, the price the pay for fame, glory and a high standard of living is extremely high. They are victims of the marketing industry of football. Diego Maradona is not an exception to the rule. He had to struggle against many difficulties which range from his social life to his drug addiction which took him almost to death. But surprisingly he overcame all those problems and looks now better than ever.

He was originally born in the slums of Villa Fiorito near Buenos Aires as the fifth of eight children. Maradona entered professional football at the astonishing age of 15 in his first football team: Argentinos Juniors. By the time he turned 16, Diego was even called in the senior national team of Argentina. Regardless of his talent, Diego was considered too young by coach Cesar Menotti, who rejected him from his selection for the 1978 World Cup. The following year Diego played the youth world football cup in Japan where Argentina won the world championship. At that time Maradona had become an idol for the majority of football fans in Argentina and the world commented about his unique ability to play football.

His early success was the result of his great talent. He was such a good player that Boca Juniors, the most popular football team in Argentina, decided to hire his services paying more than one million dollars to Argentinos Juniors. It was then that he gained more popularity than ever in Argentina and in the world. At the same time, he started earning a lot of money which enabled him to buy a house for his parents. His career in Boca Juniors was very short. He played in Boca Juniors so successfully that he was transferred to Barcelona Football Club in Spain.

His...