Greatest World Cup Moments: Diego Maradona’s sublime, solo Goal of the Century stuns England

IN the space of four minutes, Diego Maradona scored two of the most iconic goals in World Cup history. But while the Hand of God is condemned, his second was simply a thing of beauty.

Marco Monteverde

3 min read

June 13, 2018 - 8:53AM

World Cup

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FIRST the cheekiness, then the genius.

Four minutes after his infamous “Hand of God” goal in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, Diego Maradona scored the “Goal of the Century” to the amazement of the 114,580 fans at Mexico’s colossal Estadio Azteca.

What was the ‘moment’: Diego Maradona’s Goal of the Century

Which World Cup was it? Mexico, 1986

Country played for: Argentina

Argentina's Diego Maradona, second left, drives home past England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Pic: AP

Receiving the ball in his own half from teammate Héctor Enrique, Marardona took off on a weaving 55-metre, 10-second run that mesmerised a England side still reeling from going a goal down in controversial circumstances just minutes earlier.

On his way to scoring his second goal of the match, Maradona glided by four English players — Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher (twice) and Terry Fenwick.

The icing on the cake was his composed finished after a shimmy that bamboozled veteran England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

“I made the play to give it to (teammate Jorge) Valdano, but when I got to the area they surrounded me and I had no space,” Maradona said.

“Therefore, I had to continue the play and finish it myself.

“Whenever I see it again I can’t believe I managed it. Not because I scored but because it seems like a goal that just isn’t possible, a goal that you could dream of but never actually score.”

The translated reaction of Uruguayan broadcaster Víctor Hugo Morales perhaps best sums up the beauty and wizardry of the goal, and Maradona.

“I want to cry! Holy God, long live soccer! Oh, what a goal! Diegoal! Maradona! I can’t help crying, forgive me. Maradona, in a memorable drive, in the greatest play of all time…” Morales shouted from his commentary position.

“Intergalactic kite, what planet did you come from, to leave so many Englishmen in the dust?

“To make the whole country into one great, clenched fist, shaking, shouting for Argentina? … Diegoal! Diegoal! Diego Armando Maradona! Sweet Lord, thank you for the game of football, for Maradona, for these tears, and for this Argentina 2, England 0.”

Maradona would go on to lead Argentina to victory over Germany in the final. Pic: AP

So good was the goal that a statue of Maradona scoring it was erected outside the stadium.

England striker Gary Lineker, who netted in the 81st minute to give the game its final scoreline, was in awe a player he described as a “genuine phenomenon”.

“When Diego scored that second goal against us, I felt like applauding. I’d never felt like that before, but it’s true… and not just because it was such an important game,” Lineker said.

“It was impossible to score such a beautiful goal. He’s the greatest player of all time, by a long way.”

RE-LIVE THE GREATEST MOMENTS:

DAY ONE: Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal

DAY TWO: Roy Keane’s epic ‘f*****g” rant

DAY THREE: Luis Suarez’s extraordinary brain explosion

DAY FOUR: The greatest goal celebration in World Cup history

DAY FIVE: The battle of Nuremberg

DAY SIX: The humiliation of Brazil

DAY SEVEN: Escobar’s deadly own goal

DAY EIGHT: The greatest Brazil team ever assembled

DAY NINE: South Korea’s fairytale run at ‘corrupt’ Cup

DAY 10: Tragic tale of Brazil’s most hated man