Childhood
Diego Maradona was born on October 30, 1960 in Lanus, Buenos Aires.He was the 4th child of six.He grew with 3 older sisters and 2 younger brothers.
He was raised in Villa Fiorito where he took his first steps on football while playing in his neighborhood club Estrella Roja.At the age of 10,Maradona was spotted by a talents scout.He started playing for Los Cebollitas.
Career
At the age of 15, he got the chance to make his professional debut with Argentinos Juniors.He did well there and 2 years later a bid of 180.000 pounds from English team Sheffield United was on the table.Even though the offer was rejected, a few months later he was transferred to Boca Juniors for the amount of a 1 million pounds!
In his first season with the club he won the league championship.After 1981,the fans were really excited to see him play as he was become more and more popular.
The next year,was the first time Diego was part of the national squad. After playing for his national team,in the 1982 World Cup,his talent was spotted by the Spanish club Barcelona.
7,6 million dollars were offered for his signature.At that time,that was a world record fee for just one player.
When Maradona arrived,in 1983, instantly he was able to help his teammates win the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.In his first 2 years, he played 58 games and scored 38 goals.But it wasn’t all good news in Barcelona,at his time there, 2 serious injuries almost threatened to put an end in his promising career.It was at that moment when troubles started to escalate forcing him to get another world record transfer to Italian side Napoli for a fee of 10,5 million dollars.
Maradona was slowly but consistently becoming an all-time star.Especially in his country people loved him and cheered his name all the time.In 1986,before the World Cup,he was asked to honor his national team and be the captain.He did not deny the offer.
Maradona was the centre of the media attraction and was shouldering huge responsibility being the star player of the world. That World Cup became the biggest moment in his career as he guided his team single-handedly to win the championship.The coach didn’t even think to substitute him for a single minute especially after scoring 5 amazing goals and having 5 assists.
It was his part in the 2-1 win against England that made him a legend.In the quarterfinals match,he scored both of his team’s goals.One famous and one infamous.Official after looking the replay,discovered that the first goal was scored with his hand but it was already too late to cancel their decision.The goal was allowed and it would be forever come known as the hand of God goal.
For his second goal versus England he had to dribble past five English players and cover half the field.That goal was so special that FIFA named it as the ‘Goal of the Century’.
Also, he won the Golden Ball Award for the best player in the tournament.
After being a World Cup champion he stated:
"When you win, you don't get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far." - Diego Maradona
Maradona was considered to be the best player in the world as he would possess skills,technique,stamina and great leadership for his teammates.But his success did not end after the World Cup.
When he returned to Italy to play his first games with club Napoli he continued his sensational form. In 1987 and 1990, he led the team to win the domestic Championships.
In 1988 and 1989,his team was placed second .These were the most dominant years Napoli had seen and were all due to a tiny Argentinian player called Diego Armando Maradona Franco .
Maradona also took part to the next 2 World Cup campaigns but his team did not manage to dominate.
Throughout his club and international career Maradona was worshiped as a god by the football fans.In 2000,together with Pele he was voted as the ‘FIFA Player of the Century’ .
Hard work ,talent and determination were paid off.
Unfortunately,Maradona at the end of his career suffered from drug addiction and psychological problems.Nevertheless,that did not overshadow his amazing football achievements and extreme skills making him one of the most important people in sports.
Sources: https://successstory.com/people/diego-armando-maradona-franco