Maradona and the Art of Soccer
How can one soccer player make a ball seem almost attached to his feet? Diego Maradona amazed crowds with quick turns, close control, and a talent for finding a path through defenders. His skill was not just about moving fast. It was also about noticing spaces and making decisions in an instant.
Maradona was born on October 30, 1960, in Argentina. As a boy, he played soccer in Villa Fiorito, a community near Buenos Aires. He later played professionally for clubs in Argentina and Europe and became a star on Argentina’s national team. Around the world, many fans know the sport as football; in the United States, it is usually called soccer.
Keeping the Ball Close
A player dribbles by moving the ball along the field with small touches of the feet. Maradona was especially good at keeping those touches close. When the ball stayed near him, he could change direction without having to chase after it. A defender who expected him to go one way could suddenly find him moving another.
Close control also gave Maradona choices. He could continue dribbling, pass to a teammate, or shoot toward the goal. Because defenders had to watch for all of these possibilities, it was harder for them to predict his next move.
A Remarkable Run
- defenders:
- Players who try to stop the other team from moving forward or scoring.
- predict:
- To say what you think will happen next.
- quarterfinal:
- A round of a tournament in which winners move on to the semifinals.
- opponents:
- Players or teams competing against one another.
- controversial:
- Causing disagreement or debate.
- contributions:
- Things someone does to help a group or goal.
- influence:
- The effect someone or something has on others.
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Main Idea
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Context Clues
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Summarize
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Purpose
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Structure
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Vocabulary
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did Maradona's thinking work together with his physical skill?
- 2Why did keeping the ball close make it easier for Maradona to change direction?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Maradona and the Art of Soccer” is a explanatory article reading passage about Soccer, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (473 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.