Passion or Profession: Soccer Player

Period: 1960–

Considered one of history’s top soccer players, Diego Maradona rose to fame quickly in his native Argentina, joining the country’s national team as a teenager. He was subsequently paid record amounts to play for Barcelona and later for the Italian club Napoli, which he took to several major victories. He was also largely responsible for Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win. However, he was twice banned from soccer for drug use. Since retirement in 1997, Maradona has dealt with serious health problems, including obesity and a massive heart attack caused by a cocaine overdose.