MARADONA, 40 years on from the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century | OneFootball

Forty years on, 22 June 1986 at the Azteca saw Argentina meet England in a World Cup quarter-final defined by two immortal moments, the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century.

El Periódico Mediterráneo notes that the Falklands backdrop coloured the build-up then vanished at kick-off. Played at midday in fierce heat, Argentina had acclimatised at altitude, while England arrived from much lower levels.

On 51 minutes, an attempted exchange with Jorge Valdano broke to Steve Hodge, whose touch sent the ball towards Peter Shilton. Maradona sprang and nudged it in with his left fist, celebrating as if it were a header.

Referee Bennaceur looked to assistant Dotchev, the goal stood. Maradona later said he felt no remorse, calling it legitimate once validated, and he coined the Hand of God with the fallen in the Falklands in mind. Years later he met Bennaceur, who said he would still have allowed it because neither official saw the hand.

Soon after came the solo masterpiece, a slaloming run past England, hailed as the greatest World Cup goal, its legend magnified by Víctor Hugo Morales.

In 1980 at Wembley, aged 19, Maradona nearly repeated it against Ray Clemence, shooting just wide to applause. At home, his brother Hugo, 11, said he should have feinted. Jorge Valdano later recalled Diego wanted to pass during the 1986 run but an Englishman kept blocking the lane.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo