Diego Maradona: A passionate and outrageous footballer dies at 60

On the soccer field, he was considered as a genius. Outside, he was a character known practically everywhere, by everybody. Diego Maradona, who died of a heart attack at age 60, started his story as a player in the Villa Fiorito neighborhood in Buenos Aires and over the decades he became a soccer great.

He debuted with Argentinos Juniors and then jumped to the mythical Boca Juniors, where in 1981 he got his first title as a professional soccer player. Then, it was off to Europe, and his legend began.

He won three titles with the Barcelona club, becoming a world soccer figure. But Maradona won a place as one of the all-time greats when he led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title in Mexico, where he scored one of the most storied goals in soccer history _ the ``Hand of God'' goal that helped defeat England in a quarterfinal match.

Bold, fast and utterly unpredictable, Maradona was a master of attack, juggling the ball easily from one foot to the other as he raced upfield. Dodging and weaving with his low center of gravity, he shrugged off countless rivals and often scored with a devastating left foot, his most powerful weapon

Pundits have debated about who was the best soccer player in history _ whether Maradona or Pele, the iconic Brazilian who retired in 1977 and is still alive. There has been no consensus. Maradona and Pele had a very good relationship until the Argentine failed a doping test and was expelled from the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Pele criticized him and they parted ways until 2005, when they re-established a relationship. Maradona retired in 1997, but he remained linked to soccer. He was Argentina's team coach.