Retro Raunch Revisit

JUN 22, 1986: 4yrs after the end of the Falkland Islands War between Argentina and Great Britain, both countries heatedly faced each other in the quarter finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Argentina won 2-1 and the match is best remembered for the 'Hand of God' goal scored by Diego Maradona that sparked instant controversy. The goal was scored in the 51st minute of the second half with Maradona & English goalkeeper Peter Shilton both beside each other in the penalty box. A kicked pass that came off an opponent (thus keeping Maradona from being called offside) was dropping down and as both jumped forward, Maradona's outstreched arm resulted in his fist touching the ball first instead of his head, which was deliberately punched into the net. Maradona celebrated while the English team protested furiously as the contact was illegal under the sport's rules, but as the referees did not have a clear view of the play (before video review which was only introduced in 2018) the goal was allowed to stand. In the same game, he also netted his team's 2nd goal just 4 minutes later which is known as the 'Goal of the Century' for dribbling past 5 opposing players before scoring. [The victory saw them next face Belgium who was defeated 2-0 and then lastly West Germany who lost 3-2 for Argentina to win the World Cup. Maradona scored 5 goals in the tournament]. The famous captured moment was immortalized in a picture by a Mexican photographer, and in 2005 Maradona confessed on Argentinian TV that he knew the goal shouldn't have counted and when he supposedly offered an apology, it was rejected by Shilton saying it was too late. When news outlets carried the story (heavily modified) a few days later, Maradona denied everything saying he had been misquoted and had infact never asked for forgiveness. In his 2007 biography, he braggingly said of the goal, "What hand of God? It was the hand of Diego!" In a 2019 documentary, he again admitted the wrong only this time brazenly claiming it as symbolic revenge for his country's defeat in the War. For decades after, he and Argentina were still being loudly criticized for their shameless open applause & arrogant praise of the clear blatant cheating but he was nevertheless regarded as one of soccer's greatest players of all time. In a career regarded for his incredible showmanship equally on par with his insolent showboating, Maradona died in Nov 2020 and in May 2022, his game-worn no. 10 'Hand of God' jersey sold at Sotheby's auction for $9.3 million.