Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, 22 June 1986. Argentina against England in the World Cup quarter-final, four years after the Falklands War between the two countries.
The score was 0-0 in the 51st minute when a high ball dropped into the England area. Diego Maradona went up for it with the England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Maradona reached it first, with his left hand, and punched it over Shilton's head into the net.
The Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser gave the goal. The Bulgarian linesman Bogdan Dochev did not flag. Neither of them had seen the handball, or at least neither acted on it.
After the match Maradona explained the goal his own way. It had been scored, he said, "a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God."
What happened four minutes later?
Maradona scored again. This time it was the Goal of the Century, the run from his own half past half the England team. Two goals in four minutes: one of the most blatant cheats the World Cup has seen, and the finest individual goal it has seen.
Argentina won 2-1, knocked England out and went on to win the World Cup in Mexico.
Why the Hand of God is number one
It has everything the World Cup does best and worst in one moment. The politics of the Falklands. A cheat. A genius. A national hero. The same man, in the same match, a few minutes apart.
The combination made Maradona a god in Argentina and a villain in England, and neither country has changed its mind since. No other non-goal in World Cup history carries as much weight.
- Match: Argentina 2-1 England, 1986 quarter-final
- Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- The minute: 51st, with the score at 0-0
- The officials: referee Ali Bin Nasser and linesman Bogdan Dochev, neither of whom saw it
Thank you for following 30 days of World Cup moments
Over the past 30 days we have counted down the moments that shaped the World Cup, from Beckham's redemption to Maradona's Hand of God. These were moments, not only goals: saves, dramas, tragedies, celebrations and controversies, and together they make a good case that football is the most emotional sport there is.
What is your number one World Cup moment of all time? Tell us in the comments.
