Diego Maradona’s Hand of God stuns Bangladesh fans 40 years on

On 22 June 1986, Diego Maradona scored one of football’s most infamous goals: and one of its greatest: as Argentina beat England 2-1 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

What happened that night in Mexico City?

Maradona’s first goal came from a punch past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, a moment referee Ali Bin Nasser somehow missed. Maradona later called it “a little bit of the head of Maradona and a little bit of the hand of God.” Minutes later, he produced the Goal of the Century, a 60-yard dribble past half of England’s defence. Argentina went on to win the World Cup, while England left with a grudge that never faded.

Why Bangladeshis still argue over Maradona’s hand

Towhidul Alam, 63, a project manager and Brazil fan, watched the game with university friends in their common room. “At first we thought it was a header. We even cheered. Only on the replay were we sure Maradona had used his hand. Even now, I think it was pure theft.”

Hamida Begum, a professor in her mid-50s and an Argentina fan, takes a different view. “Such things happen in football, and honestly, it is acceptable. Every big player has done something clever to win a match; people just remember Maradona’s because he was bold enough to talk about it.”

The other side of Maradona: doping and heartbreak

Shanta, a homemaker in her 70s and lifelong Maradona admirer, remembers the 1994 World Cup more vividly. “My most vivid memory of Maradona isn’t 1986; it’s 1994, when he tested positive in a dope test and was sent home from the World Cup. That evening felt like the sky had fallen; our hero was gone overnight.”

Rajib Dhar Choudhury, 53, an English teacher, recalls borrowing a black-and-white television from a neighbour to watch the 1986 game. “The opening was cautious as usual, but a few minutes in, that Hand of God goal happened. I was half asleep and couldn’t follow it properly. It was only on the replay that it became clear Maradona had done some foul play.”

Does England’s grudge still matter today?

Aminah Rahman, 68, a cardiologist and France supporter, isn’t convinced. “Honestly, I think England fans exaggerate it because they lost. If England had scored an unfair goal and still won, nobody would still be talking about it 40 years later.”

Shahrukh Hasan, 27, a graphic designer, wasn’t even born in 1986. “My uncles told the story so many times growing up that I feel like I watched it myself. What amazes me is that the same match also gave us the Goal of the Century, minutes later. Chaos and genius side by side: that’s very on brand for Argentina.”

Where the rivalry stands now

Argentina and England last met at a World Cup in 2002, settled by a single David Beckham penalty. Now, drawn against each other again, Lionel Messi faces England at a World Cup for the first time in his career: and the ghosts of 1986 have resurfaced.