Maradona ( top player of the 20th century.) Biography

Diego Maradona was one of possibly the two greatest soccer players ever (Pele being the other). Though Pele may have been a rival, the two played separate positions, and Maradona remains the greatest midfielder of all time...

Childhood

Diego Armando Maradona was born into a poverty stricken family in 1961.
He had no real advantages which would help him become a famous soccer player (his immediate family couldn't even afford a soccer ball). However, his cousin bought him a soccer ball for his third birthday.
From an early age Diego Maradona would play in the streets with his friends. His skills developed very quickly, and by the age of ten, he was spotted by a scout from the Argentinos Juniors.
He proceeded to lead the youth team (Los Cebollitas) to a junior championship.
Once old enough, he moved up to the regular team in 1976 after becoming the star of the junior team.
Upon Joining the team, he was given the number 10, which was a great honor as it was the number the great Pele had worn.
Before the end of his first season with the team, fans were swarming to the stands to see this teenage star play.
The Argintinos Juniors were now defeating some of the better teams in their league, as this new star continued to shine.
After five outstanding seasons with the Argintinos Juniors, he was transferred to the powerful Argintian club, Boca Juniors.

International Starting

After doing very well for the Boca Juniors, and appearing a few times internationally, Diego Maradona joined the Argintinian National team in the 1982 World Cup.
Surprisingly, he played in all of the Argintinian games. He also surprised many by scoring two goals in a game verse Hungary.
After seeing him play well for the Barca Juniors and do well in the World Cup, FC Barcelona decided to take him on for the unheard of amount of $7.7 million!

Making History

Maradona did not have the kind of season that he had hoped for upon switching to Barcelona. It only took him two years to be switched over to the Italian club, SSC Napoli.
His performance began to pick up again, once he joined his new team.

From there, he proceeded to play in the 1986 World Cup. This was one of the greatest tournaments of his career.
He shredded the league, and led Argintina to a huge World Cup win.
Maradona's greatest goal was scored in that tournament. Many still call it the goal of the century. He received the ball at half field, dribbled through 5 defenders, and faked the keeper for the score!

However, he also scored a controversial goal against England, in which he punched the ball into the net, and faked a header so that the goal was given. He said, afterward, that it was "the hand of God".
Later he apologized on TV, saying that "It was the hand of Maradona not God".

Career Endings

From the 1986 World Cup, Maradona's playing began to take a decline.
By the time he entered the 1990 World Cup, he was not at his best (partially due to an ankle injury), and missed some things he shouldn't have.
They did make it to the finals, but lost the game.
Maradona began switching teams. He switched clubs 2 times in 2 years (1992 & 1993) before going back to Barca Juniors in 1995.
He did appear in the 1994 World Cup as well. However, he was hitting the end of his career and lacked his former spark.