Product Description

Sometimes I think that my whole life is on film, that my whole life is in print. But it's not like that, there are things which are only in my heart - that no one knows. At last I have decided to tell everything Diego Armando Maradona needs little introduction. A poor boy from a Buenos Aires shanty-town, his genius with a ball took him to the heights of European and World football, and his struggle with the pressures of life inside and outside the game pulled him right back down again. Hero or villain, one thing is certain: he was the greatest footballer of his generation - and perhaps of all time. Never before has Maradona given us his extraordinary story in his own words. Until now. From his poverty-stricken origins to his greatest glories, Maradona recounts, with astonishing frankness, and brilliant footballing insight, the pivotal moments of a legendary life - the pressures of being a child prodigy, that game against England in the 1986 World Cup, an incredible achievement and the dream turned sour at Napoli, and the shame and disgrace of USA 1994. We see inside the mind of one of the most controversial and complex sportsmen of our times - a man torn between the demands of corp

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #354062 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Martin Amis, Guardian, October 1, 2004
'This is an operatically emotional book, and also an exceptionally vivid one'

From the Publisher
One of the world's greatest footballers finally tells his story in his own words

About the Author
Translator Marcela Mora Y Araujo works as a journalist, writer and producer specializing in Argentinean football.

Customer Reviews

So dissapointing...
Yes, Maradona is one of the greatest footballers; yes, he led a very interesting life both on and off the pitch and yes, he was (and still is) increadibly influencing as a personality!! But all the things you would expect to find in this book are not there!! El Diego was a great footballer but as a writer sucks!! I began reading his autobiography right after I finished reading John McEnroe's one and the difference was HUGE.
Some of you may say "what did you expect? Ernest Hemingway stuff?" and the answer to that is no; but I was expecting Maradona to shed some light to his most darkest days as a drug addict for example, not in a gossipy way, to see what the man Maradona was like... As far as Maradona is concerned he is a God, he thinks he's the poor people's representative and he has the right to say whatever he wants, whenever he wants and to whoever he wants. Somebody may argue that that is a good ingredient for a good, maybe controversial, autobiography but it's not. It becomes increasingly irritating.
I got this book the very first day it was on the shelves and I won't be giving it back but I won't bereccommending it to people either cause it doesn't provide you with a "backstage" pass to the life of one of the most gifted footballers the world has ever seen... Now, that's I was expecting from an autobiography

Quality
What a great read by a true superstar. Maradona comes across as someone who despite having more talent in his right toe than most of todays international never really made the most of his god given talents.

He did win the World Cup and was probably the greatest footballer ever but he could have been so much better. He is honest and patriotic and never shies away from controversy.

Despite being English myself and a Maradona hater thanks to Mexico 86 after putting the book down I actually started to like the guy, great read for all footie fans.

Well written but not the full story
This is a very good read from a great player and Maradona doesn't shy away from saying what he thinks of other people. What he does shy away from however is any admittance that he might on any occasion have been in the wrong. In Maradona's mind, the entire world revolves around him and is, usually, out to get him. He see's himself as a lone crusader, crushing corruption and doing everything "for the people". What he comes across as, is a self obsessed and extremely arrogant and unpleasant character.

It's an entertaining read and I've no doubt that these negative points of the mans character are what have driven him to be possibly the best footballer the world has ever seen. I wouldn't want to spend a single second in his company though.