Witness the greatest afternoon in World Cup´s History

It was a scorching hot day at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 22, 1986. That afternoon, the World Cup would witness not just a football match but a masterclass of genius, controversy, and drama, all orchestrated by one man: Diego Armando Maradona. Argentina was facing England in the quarterfinals, in a showdown that went beyond sport. The memory of the Falklands War, which had ended just four years earlier, was still fresh, and the match became a symbolic battlefield. At the heart of it all, the greatest player of his generation, Maradona, was about to write two chapters that would be etched forever in football history.

The Context and Emotional Weight

The match between Argentina and England wasn’t just another World Cup quarterfinal; it was charged with political and emotional tension. The Falklands War, a conflict between the two countries that ended in 1982 with Argentina’s defeat, was still very much alive in the minds of both nations. For the Argentinians, winning that game meant more than just a step towards the title; it was a matter of national pride and redemption. And it was in this atmosphere of intense rivalry that Maradona took the field with a special sparkle in his eyes, knowing this was the moment of his life.

“The Hand of God”

The first act of Maradona that afternoon was an example of cunning and opportunity. Six minutes into the second half, with the score still at 0-0, he picked up the ball in midfield and charged towards the English area. As he attempted a pass, the ball deflected back towards him, and the small Argentinian, standing at just 1.65m (5’5”), leapt up alongside the English goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who was 1.85m (6’1”), to contest the ball. The world saw the unexpected: Maradona used his left hand to nudge the ball over Shilton and send it into the back of the net.

The stadium erupted. The English players immediately protested, pointing to the referee, claiming it was a clear handball. However, Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser did not see the infraction, or perhaps chose not to. When asked about the incident after the game, Maradona, with his provocative style and cheeky smile, said the goal had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” Thus, “The Hand of God” was born—one of the most controversial and unforgettable moments in football history.

The “Goal of the Century”

But if the first goal was a symbol of cunning and audacity, Maradona’s second goal that game was a masterpiece of pure genius—a definitive example of how football can be a form of art. Just four minutes after the first goal, Maradona took the ball in his own half and began to dribble. What followed was a sequence of 10 seconds of magic. He left six English players behind, one by one: Beardsley, Reid, Butcher (twice), Fenwick, and finally, goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

With short, precise dribbles and ball control that seemed to defy the laws of physics, Maradona advanced across the pitch, always moving towards the goal. He used his body and skill to deceive the defenders who tried to stop him, as if they were mere minor obstacles in his path. When he reached the penalty area, even with a tight angle and Butcher still desperately attempting a last-ditch tackle, Maradona calmly placed the ball into the back of the net.

The Azteca Stadium, with over 100,000 spectators, seemed on the verge of exploding with emotion. Uruguayan commentator Víctor Hugo Morales immortalized the moment with his call: “Cosmic kite, which planet did you come from?”. The “Goal of the Century” was a testament to what a genius can do when inspired—to how one man can, in seconds, capture the essence of football and leave it etched forever in the memories of millions.

Beyond Football

Argentina won the match 2-1, and that game wasn’t just a victory on the road to the World Cup title—which would be secured days later against West Germany—but a redemption on a national level. For Argentinians, Maradona had done more than score two goals; he had avenged the pain of the Falklands on a symbolic battlefield, under the watchful eyes of the world.

For England, the match will always be remembered for Maradona’s “cheating.” For the rest of the world, however, that clash represented the pinnacle of what football can be: passion, controversy, emotion, and sheer brilliance. Diego Maradona showed the world what it means to be human—with his flaws and his greatness, with his cunning and his extraordinary talent.