The hand of God
The moment when Diego Maradona flicks the ball with his hand past the outstretched arm of Peter Shilton | |
| Native name | La mano de Dios |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 June 1986 (Argentina v England match) |
| Venue | Estadio Azteca |
| Location | Mexico City |
| Type | Association football goal |
| Participants | Diego Maradona Peter Shilton |
"The Hand of God" (Spanish: La mano de Dios) is the name given to the opening goal awarded to Argentine footballer Diego Maradona during Argentina's victory over England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The goal, which was illegal under association football rules, was allowed to stand because none of the match referees had a clear view of Maradona using his left hand to score. Four minutes after the goal gave Argentina a 1–0 lead in the quarter-final game, Maradona scored a second goal known as the "Goal of the Century". Argentina won the match 2–1 en route to winning their second World Cup.
The goal's name derives from Maradona's initial response on whether he scored it legally, stating it was made "a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God". In time, Maradona acknowledged he had illegally handled the ball, stating that he considered the goal to be "symbolic revenge" for Argentina's defeat by the United Kingdom in the 1982 Falklands War.