The world is shaken by the news of the death of Diego Maradona, considered by many to be the greatest soccer player to ever play. Maradona scored many amazing goals in his career, the first goal he scored against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup was the subject of a lot of controversy. The second is the greatest goal in the history of the World Cup.
On June 22, 1986, Argentina and England met in a heated confrontation in the 1986 World Cup. The quarterfinals match was the first meeting between the two countries in a major tournament after the Falklands Island War. The play in question took place at the end of the first half, the game was tied 0-0 and Maradona was able to pass the ball to his teammate Jorge Valdano. Valdano tried to dribble past various English defenders, but the ball was intercepted and that is where Maradona came into play.
Maradona, who had been offsides when the ball was played, but the ball came off an English player which kept him onside, was able to jump up and anticipate the English goalkeeper Peter Shilton. He used his left arm to hit the ball into the English net and ran out celebrating, the goal stood, and the “Hand of God” was born.
The Hand of God goal by Diego Maradona
The “Hand of God” goal was met with much backlash by the English press and Maradona himself, who in later years admitted to using his hand to score, said that the play was not “cheating” but a form of advantage that South American soccer players use to win games.
Maradona has said many times that it was how he played when he and his friends played soccer before he was a professional. Maradona always looked for said “advantages”, which is very common in South American soccer players.