Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal came during Argentina's 2-1 win over England at which stage of the 1986 World Cup?

One of Football's Most Infamous Moments

It was the quarter-final stage of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico — and on 22 June at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Diego Maradona produced arguably the most talked-about ten minutes in football history. Argentina faced England, and what unfolded would be debated in pubs, classrooms, and commentary boxes for decades to come.

The Political Backdrop

This wasn't just any football match. Argentina and England had fought a real war just four years earlier over the Falkland Islands — known in Argentina as the Malvinas. The conflict ended in June 1982 with over 900 deaths on both sides. When the two nations met on a football pitch in 1986, the tension was about far more than a place in the semi-finals. For many Argentinians, Maradona's performance that day carried the weight of national pride.

The First Goal — and the Controversy

Six minutes into the second half, with the score level at 0-0, Maradona punched the ball into the net with his left hand. Referee Ali Bin Nasser, a Tunisian official who didn't have a clear line of sight, allowed the goal to stand. English players protested furiously. Maradona celebrated. In the post-match press conference, he cheekily described it as scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God" — and the phrase stuck forever.

The Greatest Goal Ever Scored

Just four minutes later, Maradona made everyone forget the controversy — temporarily, at least. Collecting the ball in his own half, he dribbled past five English outfield players and goalkeeper Peter Shilton across 60 metres of pitch in under 11 seconds, finishing with a composed left-footed slot into the net. In 2002, this goal was voted the Goal of the Century by FIFA voters. It remains one of the most breathtaking individual moments the sport has ever seen.

England's Consolation and Elimination

England pulled one back through Gary Lineker — his sixth goal of the tournament — but couldn't find an equaliser. The final score was 2-1 to Argentina, and England's World Cup was over at the quarter-final stage. Lineker would go on to win the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, but it was Maradona who stole the show.

What Happened Next

Argentina went on to beat Belgium in the semi-finals and then West Germany 3-2 in the final, with Maradona lifting the trophy as captain. For him, winning the World Cup in that particular edition — with that particular goal against that particular opponent — felt, he later admitted, like a form of revenge for the Falklands. Football and history, as ever, completely intertwined.