“The hand of God,” known as the famous FIFA World Cup goal of 1986. England and Argentina were tied to play off for the quarter-finals match of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The goal was a hand-line goal scored by Argentine footballer Diego Maradona.
The match ended with Argentina emerging victorious over England. As the 115,000 fans cheered on June 22, 1986, it is always celebrated for the moments in which Maradona settled the game and eventually brought an end to the contest.
The Argentine greatest player, Diego Armando Maradona, helped his nation by scoring twice in the 2-1 victory. It was only six minutes into the second half when Maradona cut inside from the left and played a sideline low pass to the edge of the area to his team-mate Jorge Valdano and proceeded to run in the belief of a one-two movement.
His pass however landed a bit behind Valdano and got to England’s Steve Hodge, the left midfielder who had dropped back to defend and attempted to hook the ball clear but incorrectly played it into the penalty area towards Maradona who was already moving towards the opposition net.
The English goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, then rushed out of his goalpost in a bid to clear the incoming ball. He however didn’t sight Maradona, who was 8 inches (20 cm) shorter than he was. He measured 6-foot-1 (1.85 m), and got to the ball first with his outer stretched left hand.
The ball went into the net from Maradona’s hand, the Tunisian referee, Ali Bin Nasser stated he did not see the transgression and permitted the goal, much to the dismay of the English players and management. Maradona, the Argentine goal scorer, mentioned at the end, “I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and no one came”. I told them “come hug me, or the referee isn’t going to allow it”.
After the match, during a press conference, Maradona jokingly mentioned that the goal 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”), after which it derives its name as the “Hand of God” goal.
Although the goal was not allowed under the football rules, because it was scored with a part of the hand. However, since the referee did not have a clear vision of the play and the video assistant referee form of technology had not yet been created. It was however allowed and gave the Argentine end a 1-0 edge over England. Maradona went on to put in another goal which would be known as the “Goal of the Century”, in the journey to claiming the World Cup.
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