Death of Maradona: the two legendary goals that toured the world in 1986

The legend of Diego Armando Maradona, who died this Wednesday at the age of 60, will take on all its dimensions on June 22, 1986, at the Aztec stadium in Mexico City.

A double scored against England (2-1) in the quarter-finals of the World Cup propels number 10 in the history of the round ball.

While offering him the role of unmasked avenger of Argentina, four years after the lost war in the Falklands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic under British control.

By their form, these two goals scored in less than five minutes will sum up the double face of the "Golden Kid" ("Pibe de oro" in VO), as monopolized by diabolical temptations as animated by an extraordinary genius.

READ ALSO>

Diego Maradona: a life of legend in photos

"Between us, we said to each other that it was a football match above all, that nothing would bring back the dead kids in the Falklands, that this meeting was not a war", recalled Maradona in June 2018 for Argentine television.

Deep down, perhaps more than others, the left-hander nevertheless knew all the happiness that a success against England would bring to his country.

In a documentary signed Emir Kusturica released in 2008, Maradona was also going to be much more offensive about British politics and Prince Charles: “I will never shake his hand, it is too stained with blood.

Not after the Falklands.

"

A hand and a masterpiece

A story of hands, definitely.

They are an integral part of the Maradonesque legend.

Argentina and England compete for a quarter-final hung in Mexico.

Coming back from the locker room, Maradona, 1.63 m, leaps higher than England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, 1.85 m and sends the ball into the net to open the scoring.

Of the head ?

No, with the fist of his left arm, armed with the captain's armband.

A large part of some 115,000 spectators present that afternoon (Mexican time) noted the cheating.

The players too.

But not the referee, the Tunisian Ali Bennaceur.

READ ALSO>

Death of Maradona: Pelé, Messi, Ronaldo ... the football stars mourn the "genius" of Diego

The rest is for Diego, writings that appeared in the book "Touched by God": "Checho

came to ask me:

I replied:

We were afraid they would reject the goal.

»A mythical goal that has become« the hand of God ».

The most complicated being to ensure the origin of this expression.

Most sources agree to say that it comes out of the mouth of Maradona himself, who would have let go after the meeting: “I marked a little with the head and a little with the hand of God.

"Others rather evoke an exchange between an Argentinian journalist and Maradona:" So, that would have been the hand of God?

":" It would have.

"

The masterpiece that kneels the entire planet came four minutes later.

A 50m race, six English dribbles and a ball that never leaves its left foot for the 2-0, which sends Argentina to the semi-final.

“The goal of the century”, thus elected in 2002. “I had the feeling of wanting to applaud, later confided Gary Lineker, English striker present on the lawn.

I had never felt that way but it's true… ”.

A moment of history, the capital letter being important.

Seven days later, Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup trophy.

For eternity.