Flashback: 'Hand of God', 'Goal of the Century' - Two landmarks Maradona achieved versus England

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As England and Argentina prepare to renew one of football’s fiercest rivalries in Wednesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final, memories of Diego Maradona’s unforgettable performance in Mexico 1986 have once again taken centre stage.

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The quarter-final clash at the Estadio Azteca remains one of the most iconic matches in World Cup history, not only because Argentina defeated England 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy but also because Maradona produced two goals that are still remembered decades after.

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Hand of God

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The first, scored in the 51st minute, became known as the “Hand of God”. Challenging England goalkeeper Peter Shilton for a loose ball, Maradona punched it into the net with his left hand. The referee and linesman failed to spot the infringement, allowing the goal to stand despite protests from England’s players.

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Read Also: Mac Allister calls on Argentina to channel Maradona spirit in England World Cup clash

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Maradona later famously described the strike as being scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”, a phrase that immortalised one of football’s most controversial moments.

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The controversial goal stood because neither referee Ali Bin Nasser nor assistant referee Bogdan Dochev spotted Maradona’s handball during the incident.

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Positioned about 30 yards from goal, Bin Nasser relied on his assistant after Steve Hodge’s clearance dropped into the penalty area, where Maradona beat England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to the ball with an outstretched left hand.

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Speaking to the BBC after Maradona’s death in 2020, the retired Tunisian referee explained that his view was blocked during the incident.

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“The English defender had the ball, sent it back and Maradona was in the air with Peter Shilton, and they were both facing away from me,” Bin Nasser said.

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“They were facing my assistant referee, the Bulgarian Bogdan Dochev. I was hesitant at first. I glanced over to Dochev, who was headed back to the centre of the pitch, confirming the goal. He didn’t signal for handball.”

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Dochev, who died in 2017, later said he suspected something was wrong but was unable to intervene because FIFA regulations at the time did not permit assistant referees to discuss decisions with the referee during play.

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“Although I felt immediately there was something irregular, back in that time FIFA didn’t allow the assistants to discuss the decisions with the referee,” he said, according to The Guardian.

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Nearly three decades later, Maradona acknowledged the official’s role in one of football’s most famous goals by presenting Bin Nasser with a signed Argentina jersey bearing the inscription, “Para Ali, mi amigo eterno” (“For Ali, my eternal friend.”).

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Goal of the Century

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Just four minutes later, the Argentine captain produced a moment of brilliance that erased any doubts about his extraordinary talent.

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Picking up the ball inside his own half, Maradona dribbled past five England players before rounding Shilton and calmly slotting home what FIFA later voted the “Goal of the Century.” The breathtaking solo effort is widely regarded as the greatest goal ever scored at a FIFA World Cup.

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Former Argentina team masseur Salvatore Carmando recently revealed that Maradona had predicted he would produce something special before the match.

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Speaking in an interview with FIFA, Carmando recalled Maradona telling him before kick-off: “I have to score an amazing goal today. I don’t know how exactly, but somehow I have to do it.”

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After scoring his sensational second goal, Maradona reportedly embraced Carmando and said, “I told you I’d do it and I did.”

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Argentina went on to defeat England 2-1 before overcoming Belgium in the semi-finals and West Germany in the final to claim their second World Cup title.

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Since that famous encounter, England and Argentina have met twice more at the World Cup—in France in 1998, where Argentina advanced on penalties after a 2-2 draw, and in South Korea/Japan in 2002, when England won 1-0 through David Beckham’s penalty.

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Forty years after Maradona’s unforgettable display in Mexico City, another chapter of the historic rivalry will be written when the two nations meet again, this time with a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain at stake.

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