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The Next Maradona
Published on August 25, 2004 By Robert Guinness In Sports & Leisure

The Next Maradona: Carlos Tevez


Continue to enjoy the article below, but also check out my new site: CarlosTevez.net!

Having watched Carlos Tevez all summer long--first in Copa Libertadores, then in Copa America, and finally in the Olympics--I am convinced that he is now on the level of the best football players in the world.

At a ripe age of 20, he has already won the South American under-20 championship, the Argentine Title, the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental Cup. In 2003, he was named South American Player of the Year. This year alone he led his club team, Boca Juniors, to the finals of the Copa Libertadores, scoring three goals, he led the Argentina National team to the finals of the Copa America, scoring two goals and an assist, and as of this writing, he is the leading scorer in the Olympics with seven goals, positioning Argentina to win its first ever Olympic Gold in soccer. He also leads the Olympics in shots (20) and shots on goal (14).

Tevez has many similarities to the infamous Argentine player Diego Maradona. They both grew up in poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Like Maradona, Tevez began playing professionally at a very early age (eight years old). Then, following in Maradona's footsteps, Tevez became a striker for Boca Junior's main squad at the age of 17. Like Maradona, Tevez wears the number 10.

It is not only these biographical characteristics that make Tevez similar to Maradona. When watching Tevez play, his superb dribbling skills and his danger to the goal at any spot give one reminders of Maradona. They are also of a similar physical stature, short and stalky. Lastly, Tevez's personality, while maybe not identical to Maradona's, is equally colorful. My favorite moment was when he ran onto the field as a substitute in the Copa America game against Colombia, tapped the referree on the ass, then 2 minutes later scored a goal. That's dominance of the pitch, if I ever saw it!


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Comments
on Aug 26, 2004
there has been significant interest in a carlos tevez fan club, so i bought the url carlostevez.net, and i will begin developing it soon.
on Aug 26, 2004
I hope the similarities with Diego end with the skill... It was unfortunate what happened to Maradonna...

I've not heard of Tevez before now, but I shall keep an eye on him now Thanks for sharing!

BAM!!!
on Aug 26, 2004
Link

here is an article i thought might interest you!

BAM!!!
on Sep 12, 2004
Loved all the photos on your article and everything you have written is true. I watch Boca on TV every weekend...have now for a year or so...and must say that I have seen the spice in Tevez since day one...he is bloody amazing. I love the passion in his play.
I am a woman who plays three times a week...I must say that no woman has ever inspired me the way this man does...brilliant! thanks for a great article!