25 Years On From The ‘Hand Of God’ – Superb Archive Photos Of Diego Maradona At 1986 World Cup

Chris Wright

21st, June 2011

9 Comments

By Chris Wright

25 years on from Diego Maradona’s flashing scintilla of divine intervention against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, we’ve trawled through the archives and fished out some brilliant photos of the young(ish) ‘Barrilete Cosmico’ in his pomp…

Spanish ref Victoriano Sanchez shows South Korea’s Jung-Moo Huh a yellow card for fouling Maradona during Argentina’s opening group game in Mexico City

Maradona addresses the press after the South Korea game

Maradona fires a shot at Giovanni Galli in the Italian goal before Gaetano Scirea can intervene during Argentina’s second group game

The linesman assists Maradona in making a bit of room for a corner to be taken against Italy

Maradona acknowledges the crowd after opening his account during Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Italy

Maradona lines up before Argentina’s final group game against Bulgaria

Maradona celebrates Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Bulgaria as referee Morera Ulloa blows the final whistle

Serious face: Maradona leaves the pitch after Argentina secured their passage through to the second round

Maradona skins Eliseo Rivero during the second round tie between Argentina and Uruguay

Maradona shakes hands with England captain Peter Shilton before the quarter-final in Mexico City

Terry Fenwick is outwitted by Maradona and sends him sprawling to the turf

Maradona juggles the ball on the touchline as he shields it from Kenny Sansom

Maradona sizes up Terry Butcher and Kenny Sansom

Maradona climbs to nod a sublime header past Peter Shilton to open the scoring for Argentina…

…before setting out on the route to scoring one of the finest goals in World Cup history…

…bring him down Terry!

Job done

Maradona leaves the field while photographers flock to take his picture

Maradona attempts an audacious long-range shot against Belgium in the semi-finals

Maradona opens the scoring before also bagging himself the other goal in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over the Belgians

Maradona is closed down by West Germany’s Lothar Matthaeus during the 1986 World Cup final at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City

Maradona ghosts through the West German defence

Not for the first time in his career, West Germany ‘keeper Harald Schumacher sends an opponent crashing to the ground

Maradona celebrates as Argentina are crowned World Champions thanks to Jorge Burruchaga’s 83rd-minute winner


 

We also fully recommend that you spend ten minutes of your afternoon watching BBC Sport’s ‘Don’t Cry For Me, Maradona’ short, which charts the (fictional) aftermath of that fateful afternoon in 1986 – if only for the pristine archive footage of Terry Fenwick’s absolutely atrocious long-range effort early in the Argentina game!

Photos: PA

Posted in Featured, Photos, Retro, World Cup

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9 Comments

  1. Elliott says:

    Ahh the 80’s, it’s just too bad the blow has forever clouded the actual memories.

  2. Chris says:

    “Fly little pelican, fly”

  3. God says:

    What a fucking man!

  4. […] via 25 Years On From The ‘Hand Of God’ – Superb Archive Photos Of Diego Maradona At 1986 World Cup…. […]

  5. Desmond says:

    DEAR SIR OR MADAM: Is it really all those years ago since Maradonna and his Hand Of God? How time flies. The French also had a Hand Of God when playing us here in Ireland a few years ago. But the real reason England didn’t win the World Cup that time – AND SHE SHOULD HAVE – was because she didn’t bring herself down to Maradonna’s cheap, dirty, nasty leve. He was mud. England wasn’t, still isn’t and will NEVER, EVER BE MUD like him. England has class. Maybe next time, one of the Anglo-Celt teams will win. Come on, SOUTHERN Ireland!!
    REGARDS, DESMOND, JUNE 24, 2011.

  6. Marcelo says:

    Absolutely Billiant!!
    Great Photos, but in the end, i think second goal was better and it will be remembered more than that hand

  7. KingKenny says:

    Desmond – England didn’t win that World Cup (and haven’t won one since ’66) because they weren’t good enough. If you actually go back and watch the whole game If you can’t remember it) you’ll see this. And you’ll also see the amount of fouls from the likes of Terry Fenwick, who should have seen ared card for the blatant fouls on Maradona.

    Have you forgotten Michael Owen’s dive in ’98 for the penalty v Argentina? Shame on you.

  8. KingKenny says:

    They are superb photos of El Diego, thanks for the memories. It was a fantastic tournament and Maradona is a footballing genius. If the amount of hacking from opposition players was allowed today, the likes of Ronaldo and Messi would have an awful lot of injuries, its a wonder Maradona got his leg broken only once. The best individual player the world has ever seen.

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