World Cup
Maradona's 1986 Hand of God and Goal of Century turn 40
On June 22, 1986, Diego Armando Maradona delivered a performance that still defines World Cup lore, scoring the infamous “Hand of God” goal and a second strike later hailed as the greatest World Cup goal ever. The two goals came against England national team at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, propelling Argentina national team toward the tournament they would ultimately win.
The “Hand of God” was a controversial handball that escaped the referee’s notice. It gave Argentina national team a 1-0 lead.
Maradona then dribbled past as many as five English players before netting the second strike. That effort is widely referred to as the “Goal of the Century.”
Argentina national team advanced from the match and later secured the 1986 World Cup title. The triumph cemented Maradona’s status as a national hero.
Forty years later, on June 22, 2026, Argentina national team again takes the field in a World Cup year, hoping to echo the 1986 success. This article was translated into English by artificial intelligence, with the original Spanish version available.
The 1986 encounter remains one of the most unforgettable performances in football history. Fans worldwide mark the anniversary each June 22.