Mexico City, June 22, 1986
The Estadio Azteca. A quarter-final. Argentina vs England. Four years after the Falklands War had severed political and emotional ties between the two nations. Into this crucible stepped Diego Armando Maradona — and within the space of four minutes in the second half, he scored the most talked-about goal in World Cup history, and then the greatest.
The First Goal: The Hand of God
The 51st minute. A long ball into the England penalty area. Maradona challenged goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the air — and punched the ball into the net with his left fist. The referee, Ali Bin Nasser of Tunisia, failed to spot the handball and awarded the goal. England's players protested furiously. The goal stood.
In his post-match press conference, Maradona described the goal as scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The phrase became immortal. The moment became one of football's greatest controversies — and for Argentinians, something closer to divine retribution.
It remains one of the few moments in World Cup history that is still actively debated decades later. Was it cheating? Gamesmanship? Context and perspective have always shaped the answer depending on which nation you support.
Four Minutes Later: The Greatest Goal Ever Scored
If the first goal provoked outrage, the second provoked something else entirely: awe. Receiving the ball in his own half, Maradona turned, beat one player, then another, then sprinted forward. In the space of ten seconds and 60 metres, he dribbled past five England outfield players and the goalkeeper before rolling the ball into an empty net.
The Players He Beat:
- Peter Beardsley (first touch, evaded)
- Peter Reid (bulldozed past at pace)
- Terry Butcher (wrong-footed)
- Terry Fenwick (unable to stop him)
- Terry Butcher (again, desperately chasing)
- Peter Shilton (rounded, ball rolled into net)
In 2002, the goal was voted the Goal of the Century by FIFA.com voters. The BBC's Barry Davies commentary — "Oh, you have to say that is magnificent!" — has been replayed countless times since.
Why These Two Goals Matter Beyond Football
What makes this moment so enduring is the contrast. In the same match, the same player, the same four-minute window — Maradona produced the most dishonest goal and the most brilliant goal ever scored at a World Cup. It captured everything: his genius, his cunning, his ability to bend the game to his will through both brilliance and guile.
For Argentina, still raw from the Falklands conflict, defeating England carried weight beyond football. Maradona himself later acknowledged the emotional and political dimension of the match, though in the moment his focus was purely competitive.
The Legacy
Argentina went on to win the 1986 World Cup, defeating West Germany 3–2 in the final, with Maradona at the fulcrum of everything. But it is those two goals — not the trophy lift — that most people picture when they think of Maradona and Mexico '86.
The Hand of God goal also directly influenced the introduction of video assistant referee (VAR) technology in football decades later. The debate it sparked about fairness, technology, and officiating standards never fully went away until modern video review was adopted.
Maradona passed away in November 2020. But in the Azteca on that June afternoon, he did something that no technology, no rulebook, and no number of replays can diminish: he showed the world what a single footballer, at the peak of his powers, could do.