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El Diego: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Footballer

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 561 ratings · 44 reviews
Diego Armando Maradona: hero or villain?





One thing is certain: he was the greatest footballer of his generation - and perhaps of all time. 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. Never be
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Paperback , 320 pages
Published October 6th 2005 by Yellow Jersey (first published May 1st 1902)
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(showing 1-30 of 940)
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Fabian Contreras
While I respect Maradona for being such a fantastic player, that respect is lost the moment he opens his mouth (similar to Pelé). This biography only guarantees that he views himself as God's gift to the world, who would have figured? I couldn't help but roll my eyes on reading how he never forgave César El Flaco Menotti for leaving him off the triumphant 1978 FIFA World Cup winning team. Please Maradona, you were 18 at the time, get over it! Even more shameless is the section at the end of the ...more
Procyon Lotor
Un dieci al Maradoooo.... ... talmente patacca da risultare alla fine onesto. Naturalmente questo grezzo rozzo maschilista tossicomane brutto troccolo ignorante del terzo mondo pi straccione coi tatuaggi da ceghevara e ancor pi antipatico perch argentino, che gli argentini si credono gli dei del sudamerica dovrebbe secondo le regole della politically correctness, essere confinato in una gabbietta a perenne dileggio ed educazione di asettici bimbi clonati col DNA(*) delle merendinechindermulinobb ...more
Paul
I was never too familiar with Maradona. I was too young to care about him when he was at his prime. Of course, I've heard all about 1986, it's one of their favourite subjects in England, but I never really cared, and it was only while reading this book that I looked up some videos on youtube.
I'm of the opinion that these most gifted of footballers should be humble and appreciative people. After all, they've been given a gift millions of men desire. They rarely are though, and Maradona's book l
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Comelibros
El pobre chico de Fiorito que se mojaba dentro de su casa cuando llovía y el que tuvo su mejor regalo a los tres años.”Un balón de fútbol”. De la noche a la mañana se convertía en uno de las promesas jóvenes del fútbol argentino. Todo fue tan rápido como decía él, que se le exigió hablar bien. Del mundial a jugar en Barcelona, ahí narra lo incomodo que se sintió en ese club y el carácter de los catalanes y la dureza del fútbol español. En Nápoles narra el odio racial que hay entre los italianos ...more
Pasa Ugyel
Dec 12, 2007 Pasa Ugyel rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: his fans
EL DIEGO
– A biography of the world’s greatest footballer.

This is a book written not for money neither for fame but it was written by Diego Maradona to show and tell the world his passion for the game and his turbulent life story. This is a book about how to chase a dream if you have one. As you pick up the book the love and effort written with it make it improbable to keep it down. A wonderful novel written by the great superstar himself, it explains his life as he came from the bottom to the
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Jagr
ADICCIÓN AL DRAMA.
Ese debería ser el título de esta autobiografía que me costó tanto terminar.
Manías persecutorias, delirios de grandezas y una increíble facilidad para crear enemigos. Maradona encuentra adversarios en todos lados y cree que el mundo está en su contra.

El inicio del libro, cuando habla de sus humildísimos orígenes en Villa Florito, es, al menos, simpático. Cuenta cosas interesantes de su trayectoria en cada uno de los clubes donde jugó, los mundiales del 86, 90 y 94, y el sinfí
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Vishaal
'We will have accomplished something only if we become champions'

I expected this book to keep me glued without having to try much at all. But, it keeps swaying between being deeply emotional, honest and touching to pointing fingers, self-proclamation of his untouchable stature and trying too hard, far too often for a person to want to keep going on.

The book screams of Diego Maradona's, almost unhealthy, addiction to football, Argentina, its people, winning, crying, problems with the higher aut
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Florencia
Entretenido si eres consciente de la trascendencia que ha tenido Maradona en Argentina y el mundo. Una visión personal de 20 años de trayectoria, trayectoria que no quedó exenta de polémicas y escándalos. La versión de El Diego de toda esta historia.
Q-TOP CHE-Q
Seorang manusia yang mengalahkan Dunia.
Inilah manusia di bidang olahraga yang menjelma menjadi DEWA.

Some things never lose currency in Argentina - beef, women and dulce de leche (a caramel dessert) among them. Football is another source of comfort for the masses, and one player in particular has provided more than his share of tender loving care - Maradona. The former national team captain headed the queue when the football muses visited the republic. And in a land which looks to the game for i
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Bilad
Jun 29, 2014 Bilad is currently reading it
i think this book is very good in different way? that way i want ready the story about Maradona as football icon.
Kiyaa Kanjukia
A rather good book that gives insight to the charismatic Diego Maradona both on and off the pitch.
João
Um génio dentro do campo, um burro fora dele... Um livro de fácil leitura
Adwaidh Rajan
Just as the name would suggest, self flattery at its best! The summary of the book is Maradona always knew he was born to the greatest footballer of all times.

It is also funny that even though he admits of being a drug addict, he always finds reason to explain every single problem he has made without attributing any single one of them to cocaine use!

Just an average autobiography. You will be looking at the wrong place if you are to read it to be inspired. Only worth to get an overview of Argent
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Matthew
A great book looking at the insane footballing life of Maradona. The fact that he seems to think he is god of the game, has created his own language and cries at the drop of the hat only adds to the stories insane brilliance. The problem comes with the fact that he seems to have flatly refused to discuss his drug problems, his rehab and any other controversial elements of his life. As a result you feel like large chunks of the story are missing, a really good book but only if your're a lover of ...more
Nacho
Maradona -o el negro que contratase a tal efecto- narra su historia. No se ahorra detalles escabrosos relacionados con la falopa y otros desmanes, pero la verdadera miga del libro está en lo futbolístico. Tal y como cuenta las cosas, da la impresión de que llevase la razón en todas las polémicas que han adornado su carrera y, me da a mí, que faltan datos; que su versión de los hechos es cuestionable y, a veces, disparatada.
Eduardo Orellana
La enseñanza del libro es sencilla, al Diego hay que creerle la mitad, es bonito lo anecdotico hasta cierto punto lo que cuenta de la vía Fiorito y como sufrió desde temprana edad, pero al leer su historia contada por él mismo parece perder magia, quizás seré yo pero para mi un jugador que él existe y es nada más y nada menos que un SALVADOREÑO.
Luis Perez
Nonfiction. The autobiography of soccer’s greatest and most controversial star.
This is an English-language version and something gets lost in the translation. Some of the lingo and slang doesn't have the same ring in English. I would probably rate the Spanish version higher. No great work of literature but the anecdotes and inside look at an amazing, often troubled life are pretty good.
Federico Borges
Un libro sensacional es aquel que no te deja pensar en otra cosa que seguir leyendo, es aquel que te provoca una sensación de vacío cuando se te está terminando, así es para mi este libro, de todas maneras mucho influye el hecho de que el diego para mi es lo más grande que hay, así bien argentino, fanfarrón, garca, lleno de magia y lleno de miserias, para leerlo una y mil veces!
Tim Roast
El Diego takes you through the life of Diego Maradonna through the words of Maradona. He focuses on the good times, the winning of the 1986 World Cup, the winning of Italian titles etc.

What you really want is the details of the low-points of his career, his taking of drugs is only touched upon. So if you want a full account of Maradona's career then don't get this book.
David Goonan
Not a bad book. Is a good look at his sporting career and his account of this. However, a lot of things about his life and avoided and not discussed which is a bit disappointing.
Steve Downes
I love Diego for his honesty in this book.

He doesn't shy away from mistakes he's made.

A brilliant autobiography and an insight into South American and European football too.

"Hand of God" still burns but even as an Englishman I think he's the greatest player in my life time.
(and that second goal was something special wasn't it)
Nandita
His tone is insufferably full of himself, which is not surprising since he was such a great footballer but still grates on nerves! He brags, boasts and claims to have "vaccinated" people endlessly.

Dear Maradona, it is possible to be a great sportsperson and still be an interesting writer. If you don't believe me, please ask Andre Agassi.
Bjorn Hardarson
Greatest people often are little bit crazy, Maradonna even most admit to that. his problem with authority is probably best described when he said why his father was often beating him. "He had so many kids, needed to work so much so he had to beat us as he did not have time to talk to us"
Jose
I love soccer and think that Maradona is one of the greatest to ever play that game. With that said, sometimes his arrogance became too much for me. I loved reading about his thoughts on certain matches, but I didn't appreciate when he was talking as though he was God's gift to the world.
Edwin
Diego nos cuenta sus anecdotas, de una manera como solo el sabe hacerlo, como sufre cada partido, siempre es el, su equipo, los que pueden menos, contra los grandes, los poderosos.

Si te gusta el futbol, definitivamente deberias leertelo.

Ole ole ole ole Diego Diego!
Robin
This is a book about a soccer player from Argentina. I read the first chapter and decided it wasn't going to keep me interested. He talked about the big rivalry between "River" and "La Boca" in Buenos Aires. When we were in BA, we saw a game between River and a team from Brazil!
Tim Evans
Bragging. That's all it is. The arrogant rants of a man who thinks he's god. And he's not. Very good footballer but he's not god. He's a drug-taking egomaniac who cheated England out of the World Cup and I won't get over that anytime soon.
Walter Alini
Este libro no me dejó nada. En realidad no me dejó nada extra: el Diego es demasiado importante para los argentinos. "Demasiado" en tanto a que "más de lo que merece". Ojalá los videos de sus partidos duren más que sus declaraciones.
Inry

This was one of my favorite books I have read it is about the best soccer player that ever lived his name Diego Armando Maradona or better known as maradona. This book talks about his life and hard time I really liked this book
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