Isn't that the same story of most South Americans?? I was from ghetto, surrounded by drugs. Football saved my life. Blah......
Even when it is true, i think in Tevez theres something different about him. Yes, most of brazilian footballers come from poor families and break out in the pro footie scene... but i think Tevez is a special case in terms of charisma. He is really loved in argentina and around the world.
For exmaple, compare him with someone like adriano who grew exactly the same way and suceeded at top level for a period, but he was a shady man full of problems and was never able to leave behind those fabela antics he had, on top of his gazillion problems in his head.
Tevez brings that spark and entertaiment that footballer nowadays do not. He plays like a pro, but he still enjoys his football like the old times in the slumps.
Players like adriano and even rivaldo, even when they walked similar paths to tevez... were scarred by their past. In the case of Adriano, it proved to be decisive for his career.
My point is, that Tevez is charismatic enougt to make people around the world, who lived and is living the same style of life he lived, smile and enjoy