This week, ESPN FC is counting down, in chronological order, 10 of the greatest World Cup matches; have your say on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #WCTop10Matches. Eighth on our list is a match that saw Diego Maradona produce two of the most famous goals of all time.
On June 22, 1986, at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, a rivalry dating back two decades boiled over.
The animosity had been sparked during a 1966 World Cup quarterfinal clash that saw England manager Alf Ramsey label the Argentine players “animals” for their behaviour in a match in which their captain, Antonio Rattin, was controversially dismissed; relations worsened after Estudiantes’ brutal treatment of Manchester United during the 1968 Intercontinental Cup.
By 1986, the Falklands War had elevated tensions between the nations to new levels. Argentine fans had burned Union Jack flags during the tournament, and a prominent Buenos Aires politician had submitted a request for a minute’s silence for the slain Argentine soldiers before the teams’ quarterfinal. Their star player, Diego Maradona, called on fans to "forget politics and just respect two fine teams," but the feeling among the 114,800-strong crowd was fierce and, despite the presence of riot police, fighting inevitably took place on the terraces.
For all that, though, the game is remembered for Maradona, whose match-winning performance comprised two of the most famous goals ever scored. As England boss Bobby Robson put it after the game: "The first goal was a disgrace but the second goal was a miracle."
The teams had exchanged chances in the first half in Mexico City, but neither made the breakthrough, even if Argentina, inspired by their captain, looked superior.
Six minutes into the second half, England midfielder Steve Hodge lofted a loose ball back toward goalkeeper Peter Shilton only to see Maradona use his hand to divert it into the net. Though his crime was not immediately apparent to all observers, Shilton and his defenders instantly appealed, while the majority of the Argentina players also seemed to realise something was awry. "I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and no one came," Maradona later said. "I told them: 'Come hug me, or the referee isn't going to allow it.'"
Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo dismissed the England protests after the game, saying: "He headed it in. I think it was alright. I saw him jump and head it." Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser also believed the goal was legitimate, and, despite fervent complaints, Argentina had the lead. Maradona, speaking with a touch more honesty after the game, said the goal had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
Four minutes later, he had his second, and it was truly astonishing. From his own half, Maradona turned brilliantly before leaving Peter Beardsley for dead, outpacing Peter Reid, skipping past Terry Butcher and dancing around a desperate shirt pull from Terry Fenwick as he entered the area. Maradona had pulled off a similar feat against England in a 1980 friendly but, when he advanced on goalkeeper Ray Clemence, fired wide. His brother called after that match in 1980 to tell him he should have taken the ball around the keeper, and, six years later, he put the advice into practice, taking the ball around Shilton before slotting into the net.
Incredibly, it was even better than it looked: England striker Gary Lineker wrote in his book "Still Dreaming" that the pitch was so poor that the goal defied comprehension.
His effort, billed by fans as the "Goal of the Century," prompted famous commentary from Radio Argentina’s Victor Hugo Morales: "It's going to fall to Diego. Maradona has it, two on him, Maradona steps on the ball, takes off on the right, this genius of world football, he's sent them flying and will touch it to Burruchaga Maradona forever! Genius! Genius! Genius! Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta Gooooooal Gooooooal I want to cry! God almighty, long live football! Golaaazooo! Diegoooool! Maradona! I'm sorry, but this would make you cry Maradona, a memorable dribble, a play for all time, like a comet. From which planet did you come to leave in your wake so many Englishmen, so that the whole country could be a clenched fist shouting for Argentina? Thank you, God, for football, for Maradona, for these tears, for this: Argentina 2, England 0."
England did pull a goal back on 81 minutes, when Lineker headed home after good work from John Barnes -- prompting a frenzied finale -- but to no avail: Maradona’s double was decisive.
"The first goal was a disgrace," Robson said. "It was handball, and it was a dreadful mistake, but the second goal was a miracle. One of the most brilliant I have ever seen. He has such grace, such poise on the ball. I didn’t like the second goal, but I couldn’t help but admire it."