Being the football enthusiasts we are, on the occasion of Qatar Winter World Cup edition, we decided to look upon some of this sport's icons, past editions' players and whether genetics gifted them with their top skills (and goals). We found some really interesting insights.

Let's take Diego Armando Maradona, also known as "The Greatest." He scored the goal of the century in the 1986 Mexico World Cup and led Argentina to final victory.

It is claimed that Diego was born with an extra bone in his instep, making his feet appear bigger than most. This allowed the legend to treat the ball differently.

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Cameron's Roger Milla is oldest #WorldCup scorer. But what kept him scoring at the age of 38 in Italia?

Perhaps it is ACTN3, also known as “the gene for speed and endurance, allowing fast muscle contractions and strength.”

Only a few carries the ACTN3 gene. Are you one of them?

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Ever wondered why some footballers like Daniel Amokachi dance so well after scoring at the #WorldCup?

A recent study identified 69 genetic variants associated with beat synchronization! One of these may have been responsible for the “Amokachi” dance that provided so iconic in the 1994 tournament.

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen China, is the world’s leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Our services cover more than 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July of 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.