Diego Maradona Autograph

Profession:
(1960-2020) Argentine professional football player and manager. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.

Year of Birth: 1960

Diego Maradona was an Argentine professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He has been the subject of many documentaries, books, and films. He was the captain of the Argentine national team that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup and was the recipient of numerous individual awards, including the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

Maradona was born on October 30, 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the fifth of eight children born to Diego Maradona Senior and Dalma Salvadora Franco. His father was a bricklayer and his mother was a housewife. He grew up in a poor family and was largely self-taught in the game of football.

At the age of 8, Maradona was signed by Argentinos Juniors, a local club in Buenos Aires. He made his professional debut at the age of 15 and went on to become the youngest player in the Argentine first division. In 1979, he moved to Boca Juniors, winning several trophies with the club. In 1982, he was transferred to Barcelona for a world record fee of $7.6 million.

In 1986, Maradona led Argentina to its second World Cup victory. He scored five goals and gave five assists in the tournament. His performance in the final against West Germany is considered one of the greatest individual performances in World Cup history. He was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament and was also the top scorer with five goals.

After the World Cup, Maradona moved to Napoli, where he won two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup. He also led Argentina to the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals. However, he was banned for doping after a positive test for cocaine. He subsequently moved to Sevilla, then back to Argentina, and eventually to the United Arab Emirates, where he retired in 1997.

Maradona's legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time is undisputed. He is remembered for his incredible skill and vision on the pitch, his leadership qualities, and his passion for the game. He was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2013 and was posthumously awarded the FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000.