Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona is a former Argentine soccer player who is also known as "El Pibe de Oro", or the "Golden Boy". He was born in 1960 in Lanus right outside of Buenos Aires, where he played for Los Cebollitos. He became the youngest Argentine international player when he played against Hungary at the age of 16.

Two years later he captained the World Youth Cup winning team and was transferred to Boca Juniors for €1,000,000, winning South American Player of the year twice in 1979 and 1980. In 1982, Maradona moved to Spain to join Barcelona for a world record transferring fee of €5,000,000. In the same year the World Cup was held in Spain, and Maradona made a debut on his new homeground. However, Argentina didn't finish as what they wished for. In his first season with Barca, Maradona made a huge contribution to the team to win all three league, league cup, and the super cup. Two years later, he moved to S.S.C Napoli in Italy, winning both the league and the league cup.

A year earlier, Maradona captained Argentina national team leading them to the victory. It was the World Cup that will follow Maradona forever to his grave. He scored 5 goals in the tournament, and two of them against England are one of the most controversial goals of all time. The first goal was the notorious "Hand of God", and the second was probably one of the most phenomenal goals in the history as Maradona ran by 7 English players and scored.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbsytHDp2o&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbsytHDp2o&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rW-lK9F6TU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rW-lK9F6TU

In 1990 World Cup, Maradona captained Argentina national team taking the team to the finals one more time, However, Germany was too strong opponents for Argentina. After the loss, Maradona's downfall began. Two drugs scandals ruined Maradona's reputations. He tried to come back helping Argentina to qualify for 1994 World Cup and scoring a marvellous goal against Greece, however, the next game against Nigeria, he was caught for a drug abuse again and sent home.

Maradona retired from Argentina national team after 1994 with both good and bad reputation. However, at least for me and his fans, Maradona will remain as the only player who can run around the field beating 7 defenders and tearing the goal nets. Live forever the Golden Boy.