The 'Hand of God' Goal: What Actually Happened

Few moments in football history spark as much debate as the "Hand of God" goal. It happened on June 22, 1986, during a World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England, played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

In the 51st minute, Argentina's Diego Maradona rose to challenge England goalkeeper Peter Shilton for a high ball inside the penalty area. Instead of heading it, Maradona subtly punched the ball into the net with his left fist. The referee and linesman missed the infraction, and the goal stood. Argentina went on to win the match 2-1, eventually lifting the World Cup trophy that year.

After the game, Maradona famously described the goal as being scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God" — a phrase that gave the incident its lasting nickname.

The goal remains one of football's most debated moments, symbolizing both the sport's unpredictability and its ongoing struggles with fair officiating. It also helped accelerate later conversations around technology in football, including the eventual introduction of goal-line technology and VAR.