A FREE KICK TO FAME AND PENALTY

Soccer, the greatest field game ever played, since its conception,

Sans doubt, its roots are so deep, no country likes  an exception,

Those ninety minutes of  war keeps, everyone guessing in frenzy,

Driving players and fans to greater heights of duels and ecstasy.

 

Such is the passion for the game, stars do emerge now and then,

Lightening speeds, the quick  reflexes stand them apart in a win ,

Magic of the great Pele and  his feats in Brazil do reign even now,

A lad  in Argentina  in late seventies on the horizon was on view.

 

This boy, poverty stricken did  practice soccer too, time and again,

Rolling the ball onto the head, the rare dribbles seen  quite often,

 No wonder this boy was squeezed into the state team at sixteen,

Rules denied a berth for Junior team, age  withholding his sheen.

  

Became the youngest prodigy  to wear the coveted junior mantle,

Nation rejoiced and crowned  as it won the Junior World Cup title,

He had in wait for  blue and white colors, still immature age wise,                                                      

His skills in ball possession, swift moves and dribs were his forte.

Soon the  Blue and white jersey did inspire him to greater heights,

 Excelled in midfield outwitting and bewildering all the opponents, 

 Whole world saw the golden era of soccer under his golden feet,

 English team and  fans all  awestruck with his speed and his fleet.

 

Soon he hoisted the Gold cup, transformed the entire soccer world,

His fame leapfrogged, nicknamed as the “Magician” on the field, 

So too, all the bad habits masqueraded him on and off the field,

Drugs ruining both, succeeding world cups and his fans worldwide.

 

Rest of his life witnessed many a comeback, alas! not  for his gain,

Expectations were high, he failed to repeat the same magic again, 

Ailing body suffered too many penalty kicks of such  goalless affair.

God’s hands reclaimed his skills,bemusing  us in a goalless despair.