Hand of God Goal
Diego Maradona scored the controversial 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup
June 22, 1986
The Most Controversial Goal in Football History
On June 22, 1986, Diego Maradona scored two of the most famous goals ever seen in the same match — in the same half. Argentina faced England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City, a match charged with political tension following the Falklands War four years earlier. Maradona's first goal was punched into the net with his left hand — a clear handball that the referee missed. Maradona later said it was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." His casual dishonesty delighted Argentina and infuriated England in equal measure.
The Goal of the Century
Just four minutes after the Hand of God, Maradona received the ball in his own half and proceeded to dribble past five English outfield players and the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net. The move covered roughly 60 meters in about 10 seconds. FIFA later voted it the Goal of the Century in a worldwide poll. It stands as perhaps the most extraordinary individual piece of skill ever performed in a World Cup match. The contrast between the two goals — one brazenly dishonest, one almost supernaturally brilliant — captured everything that made Maradona one of sport's most complex and compelling figures.
Argentina's Greatest Moment
Argentina went on to win the 1986 World Cup, with Maradona as the tournament's undisputed star. He was carrying a nation that was still healing from military dictatorship and economic turmoil. For millions of Argentines, his genius was not just football — it was something approaching the miraculous. Maradona died in November 2020, and Argentina declared three days of national mourning. His legacy remains fiercely debated — a generational talent whose personal struggles with addiction and his willingness to cheat make him impossible to simply celebrate or simply condemn. He was, above all, utterly unforgettable.