June 22 marks the 30th anniversary of the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal game between Argentina and England that took place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Within four minutes, Argentine playmaker Diego Maradona scored two of the most famous goals in football history: the notorious "Hand of God" goal, followed by the acclaimed FIFA Goal of the Century. Argentina won 2-1 and eventually took home the title.
The Hand of God goal was scored in the 51st minute of the game and opened the score. Maradona received the ball from left-back Julio Olarticochea, went on to dribble past two defenders as he attempted a pass directed to Jorge Valdano, which got deflected forward into the path of Maradona, who at 5-foot-5 out-jumped 6-foot goalkeeper Peter Shilton and punched the ball to the net. The goal was labelled the Hand of God, as Maradona stated in a postmatch reaction that the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
Four minutes after the first goal, Maradona went on to score what is considered one of the greatest goals ever scored and was later voted FIFA's Goal of the Century. Maradona, received a pass in Argentina's defending half and went on to dribble past five English players before, again, going by Shilton to slot home.
The 1986 World Cup is highly regarded as the setting where Maradona sealed his legacy as an all-time great. Many have attributed Argentina's second World Cup title single-handedly to Maradona's performance.
Diego Maradona -- 1986 World Cup -- Won Golden Ball as tournament's best player
Assists - 5 (1st)
Chances created - 27 (1st)
Shots - 30 (1st)
Fouls drawn - 53 (1st)
Goals - 5 (2=)
QUOTES
"A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
-- Maradona's own account of which part of his body he had touched the ball with during media interviews after the match.
"At what point was he offside? Or was it a use of a hand that England were complaining about?"
-- BBC commentator Barry Davies was uncertain what had happened in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
"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.'"
-- Maradona.
"It wasn't the hand of God, it was the hand of a rascal."
-- Sir Bobby Robson, the England manager.
"After Maradona scored, I hesitated for a moment, but then I saw (Bulgarian linesman Bogdan) Dotchev running towards the centre of the pitch. And because he was better placed than me, I decided to trust his judgement."
-- Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, speaking years later.
"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. If FIFA had put a referee from Europe in charge of such an important game, the first goal of Maradona would have been disallowed."
-- Dotchev speaking to the Bulgarian media.
"As much as I can have a go at him and say he was a cheat, his second goal was sublime. We couldn't cope with the kind of skill he showed on the football pitch."
-- England's Steve Hodge, who swapped shirts with Maradona after the match.
"I'll never forgive him. It's very hard to forgive and forget in the circumstances. I think I'm 4-1 to get a red card in the tunnel -- it would be the fist of Terry Butcher rather than the hand."
-- former England defender Terry Butcher, speaking in 2008, when he was the assistant coach of Scotland, ahead of a reunion with Maradona.
"He was the greatest player I played against, but the way, after the game, he never apologised or admitted to it was wrong. I've seen goalkeepers cheat and pull the ball from behind the line, I've seen players cheat, but after the game they always said, 'Sorry I shouldn't have done it.' It's an instinct thing. If he came to England and apologised properly, you'd never say never, but I don't think that's going to happen."
-- England goalkeeper Peter Shilton reflecting on the incident.
"I didn't see the Hand of God. I was at the other end of the pitch. But the immediate reaction from the players was, 'Handball.' I blame the officials; I think the linesman saw it and bottled the decision."
-- England striker Gary Lineker.
Information from the Press Association and ESPN Stats & Information was used in this report.