Maradona Punched a Ball Into the World Cup
Inthe1986WorldCupquarter-final,DiegoMaradonascoredwithhisfist.Therefereeallowedit.Thenhescoredthegreatestgoalever.Allin4minutes.
On June 22, 1986, in the quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Argentina faced England. The match took place just four years after the two countries had fought a real war over the Falkland Islands. The tension was enormous.
In the 51st minute, Diego Maradona rose for a header near the English goal. The ball was high. Maradona was 5'5". Goalkeeper Peter Shilton, at 6'1", should have reached it easily.
Maradona punched the ball into the net with his left fist.
The referee, Ali Bin Nasser, didn't see it. Neither did the linesman. Goal. England 0, Argentina 1. The English players erupted in protest. Replays clearly showed the handball. It didn't matter. The goal stood.
After the match, Maradona was asked about the goal. He said it was scored "un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios" — "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
Four minutes later, Maradona scored again. This time, there was no controversy — only wonder. He collected the ball in his own half and dribbled past five English players and the goalkeeper, covering 60 metres in 10 seconds, before slotting the ball into the net.
It was voted the "Goal of the Century" by FIFA. In four minutes, Maradona had produced the most controversial goal and the greatest goal in World Cup history. Argentina won 2-1 and went on to win the tournament.
Both goals, four minutes apart
The most infamous handball in football history, followed immediately by the greatest goal ever scored. Watch them back-to-back.
What you now know
- Maradona's "Hand of God" goal was a deliberate handball that the referee failed to see — it was never overturned
- Four minutes later, he scored the "Goal of the Century" — dribbling past five players and the goalkeeper from his own half
- The match took place just four years after the Falklands War, making it one of the most politically charged games in football history