Maradona's 'Hand of God' and 'Goal of the Century': Revisiting Argentina's 1986 Triumph Over England

Forty years ago, on June 22, 1986, Argentina faced England in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico City. The match, held at the Azteca Stadium, is etched in football lore not only for Argentina's 2-1 victory but as the day Diego Maradona ascended to the status of a footballing deity.

Maradona's performance was legendary, marked by two extraordinary goals. The first, controversially dubbed the 'Hand of God,' saw him punch the ball into the net, a feat attributed to divine intervention by some and a display of cunning by others. He later claimed it was a gesture of rebellion. Just four minutes later, he scored the 'Goal of the Century,' a mesmerizing solo run from the halfway line, dribbling past multiple English players before slotting the ball into an empty net.

The game was steeped in geopolitical tension, occurring shortly after the 1982 Falklands War, which had left a deep scar on both nations. This animosity was palpable not only on the field but also among the estimated 114,000 spectators and in clashes between Argentine 'barrabravas' and English 'hooligans' outside the stadium.

The Argentine team, managed by Carlos Bilardo, lined up with Nery Pumpido; José Luis Brown, Oscar Ruggeri, José Luis Cucciuffo; Sergio Batista, Julio Olarticoechea, Ricardo Giusti, Héctor Enrique, Jorge Burruchaga; Diego Maradona and Jorge Valdano. England, under Bobby Robson, fielded Peter Shilton; Gary Stevens, Terry Fenwick, Terry Butcher, Kenny Sansom; Trevor Steven, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid, Glenn Hoddle; Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley. The match was officiated by Tunisia's Ali Bennaceur.

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Cosmic kite, what planet are you from?