Teen Agüero may become Argentina's next Maradona

	Sergio Agüero, 18, has made an immediate impact in Europe as a go-to scoring threat for contender Atlético Madrid. Icon Sport/WireImage.com
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If you ever really want to test your knowledge of soccer, try your luck with an Argentine cab driver. During a recent ride I took to meet River Plate's latest European export, Gonzalo Higuaín, my cabbie, a passionate River supporter, asked me: "Tell me, who do you think is the best Argentine soccer player at the moment?"

Without any hesitation I replied, "Sergio Agüero."

"OK, now I definitely know you know what you're talking about," he answered back. "Which magazine do you write for again?"

Why the vote of confidence? Historically, most of Argentina's talent has come from Buenos Aires' two super-clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate. It takes an enterprising eye to make such an assertion about Agüero, who came to prominence at Independiente before being sold to Spain's Atlético Madrid last May. While much of the soccer world raves about Carlos Tévez or Lionel Messi, the 18-year-old Agüero may very well be the most technically gifted Argentine soccer player since Diego Maradona.

"Kun," as he's commonly referred to because of his similarities with a Japanese cartoon character, made his Argentine First Division debut with Independiente at the age of 15, beating Maradona's record-breaking debut by a few months. But the similarities don't end there. Agüero was also brought up in a dangerous Buenos Aires barrio, as his parents struggled to make ends meet.

He recalls having to dodge bullets during much of his childhood before Independiente bought his family a house in a safer suburb. Like Maradona and so many Argentine soccer stars, poverty played a significant role in Agüero's life. But the starlet realized the game was his only way out.

Maradona recently said Agüero has the potential to become one of the best strikers in history, perhaps outdoing even him. Then again, Maradona has said this about several hopefuls in the last few years, including Tévez, who is struggling mightily at England's West Ham. Still, from what we've seen of him so far, if any player has a shot at surpassing the greatest Argentine player of all time, Agüero is the man.

Like "El Diez," Agüero possesses masterly skills that have enabled him to rip apart defenses in key matches time and time again. He's a player who always seems to rise to the big occasion and scores when it matters most. And like Maradona, he clearly has an eye for highlight reels.

Mention the greatest goal of all time, and most soccer fans will immediately cite Maradona's breathtaking strike against England in Argentina's '86 World Cup quarterfinal victory, when he won the ball in his own half, performed a full 360-degree turn and eased past practically the entire English team before sliding the ball into the back of the net.

Guess what? Agüero did it, too. In the '05 Apertura Championship, just three months after his 17th birthday, he replicated Maradona's amazing effort while playing for Independiente. (Click here to see for yourself.) What made the goal all the more special was that it was against bitter rival Racing Club. Agüero also scored a pair of goals in his final derby game at Racing's intimidating Cilindro de Avellaneda, leading his team to a 2-0 victory last year.