What Makes a Soccer PlayerGreat?

Soccer is played bymillions of people all over the world,but there have only been few play-ers whowere truly great.How did these players get that way—was it through

training and prac-tice,or are great players“born,not made”?First,these players came from placesthat have had famous stars in the past-players that a young boy can look up to

and try toimitate.In the history of soccer,only six countries have ever won the WorldCup-three from South America and three from western Europe .There has neverbeen a

great nationalteam-or a really great player-from North Americaor from Asia.Second,these players have all had years of practice in the game.Alfredo Di Stefano was the son

of a soccerplayer,as was Pele.Most players begin playing the game at the age of three orfour.

Finally,many greatplayers come from the same kind of neighborhood—a poor,crowded area where aboy's dream is not to be a doctor,lawyer,or businessman,but to become a

rich,famous athleteor entertainer. For example,Liverpool,whichproduced the Beetles,had one of the best

English soccer teamsin recent years.Pele practiced in the street with a“ball”made of rags.AndGeorge Best learned the tricks that made him famous by bouncing the ball off a

wall in the slums ofBelfast.

All great playershave a lot in common,but that doesn't explain why they are great. Hundreds ofboys played in those Brazilian streets,but only one became Pele.The greatest

play-ers are bornwith some unique quality that sets them apart from all the others.The word“tricks”atthe end of Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to______.

A.“experience”

B. “cheating”

C. “skills”

D. “training”