Diego Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal helped Argentina defeat England in a 1986 World Cup quarterfinal—and sparked one of football’s most enduring controversies.
As the ball flew toward the goal, Maradona punched it past the goalkeeper. The referee allowed the goal to stand despite England’s protests, and just four minutes later Maradona scored again after taking on several English players. Argentina won 2–1 and went on to claim the World Cup. This brief football history story revisits the disputed goal, the match that followed, and Maradona’s cheeky explanation: “A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
As the ball flew toward the goal, Maradona punched it past the goalkeeper. The referee allowed the goal to stand despite England’s protests, and just four minutes later Maradona scored again after taking on several English players. Argentina won 2–1 and went on to claim the World Cup. This brief football history story revisits the disputed goal, the match that followed, and Maradona’s cheeky explanation: “A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
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00:00As the ball came over the top, he knew he wouldn't be able to get his head to it before
00:04the keeper
00:04could hit it away. So, at the last moment, he lifted his hand and he punched the ball
00:09over the keeper's head. It's difficult to see in the footage, but in the photos and to the players
00:14on the field, it was obvious. However, Diego Maradona celebrated just as he would any other
00:19goal, and as he did, his Argentine teammates played along. England's players protested,
00:24but the referee didn't see the handball, and the linesman said nothing. So, the goal stood.
00:29Four minutes later, Maradona followed up his first goal by taking on half the English team by
00:34himself, and he scored as second. Argentina won the quarterfinal 2-1, they went on to win the entire
00:401986 World Cup, and when asked by reporters about how the controversial goal was really scored,
00:46Maradona cheekily responded, a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God.
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