A Single Match That Made Two Legends
The story of the Hand of God belongs to one match in one tournament: Argentina against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, held in Mexico. Diego Maradona, the Argentine captain, took part in two of the most famous goals ever scored in football — both of them in the same match, within minutes of each other. One has been condemned by English fans and football traditionalists ever since; the other is often called the greatest goal of all time.
The First Goal: The Handball
Six minutes into the second half, Maradona ran into the English penalty area as goalkeeper Peter Shilton came out to punch the ball clear. Maradona jumped with him and got to the ball first, but not with his head. He punched the ball into the net with his hand. From the referee's angle the contact was hidden, and the goal was given. Television replays quickly showed the truth, but in the days before video assistance, the goal stood and counted.
The Phrase That Stuck
After the match, Maradona was asked about the goal. He gave the answer that became legend: the goal had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The line was as much a wink as a confession, and it gave the moment a name that has lasted ever since. The Hand of God is one of the most quoted phrases in football, and it is permanently attached to that single header-that-wasn't.
The Second Goal: The Goal of the Century
Just four minutes later, in the same match, Maradona scored again — this time in a way that no one could dispute. Picking up the ball deep inside his own half, he ran past five England players, including Shilton, before slotting it into the net. The whole sequence covered around sixty metres and lasted about ten seconds. FIFA later named it the Goal of the Century. Argentina won the match 2–1.
What Came After
Argentina went on from that famous quarter-final to win the 1986 World Cup, beating West Germany 3–2 in the final at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Maradona, captain and main playmaker, lifted the trophy. For Argentine fans, the Hand of God is part of the legend of one of their greatest sides. For English fans, it remains a sore moment in the country's footballing history. Together, those two goals — the cheeky one and the brilliant one — define Maradona's place in the sport.
Source
This article was written using information from Wikipedia.