Soccer Star Santino Quaranta Shares His Life Story (VIDEO)

Soccer star Santino Quaranta's life story is a cautionary tale—one that he hopes will encourage young athletes to make the right decisions about their futures. 

At 16 he was handed the world on the platter after becoming one of the youngest professional soccer players in American history. He had fame, money and attention.

Over the next few years Quaranta, a Perry Hall resident, would succumb to the pressures and temptations of early success.

But that's not the legacy he leaves behind. (See video)

The Baltimore native spoke before a group of 650 high athletes Tuesday at the sixth annual conference in .

Quaranta retired from professional soccer last year and now is the vice president of —a non-profit development academy for aspiring young players.