The FIFA World Cup, which began in Montevideo in 1930, now stands close to its centenary. Across its long history, the tournament has produced several defining eras and iconic figures, from the brilliance of Pelé and Garrincha to the influence of Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi. Yet few individual performances have shaped a World Cup as decisively as Diego Armando Maradona’s display at the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
Football is fundamentally a collective sport played by 11 men, but during the summer of 1986 Maradona repeatedly altered matches through his own influence. Under coach Carlos Bilardo, Argentina won the World Cup largely through the leadership, creativity and goals of their captain. The side later became widely described as “Maradona and the other 10”.
Unlike Brazil’s celebrated teams of the Pelé era, Argentina’s squad did not contain several globally established superstars. Maradona served simultaneously as captain, playmaker and principal attacking threat. Whenever opposition defences attempted to contain Argentina, he frequently carried the ball forward alone and created decisive moments.
His most famous performance came in the quarter-final against England. Maradona scored twice in Argentina’s 2-1 victory. The first goal, later known as “La Mano de Dios” or “The Hand of God”, remains one of the most controversial moments in football history because the ball was handled before entering the net. However, only minutes later he produced another goal that became equally historic for different reasons. Picking up possession inside his own half, he dribbled past multiple England defenders before scoring, a strike later voted FIFA’s “Goal of the Century”.
Maradona also scored both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 semi-final victory over Belgium. In the final against West Germany, Argentina secured a 3-2 victory to win the nation’s second World Cup title.
Argentina’s Knockout Stage Results
| Stage | Opponent | Result | Maradona’s Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-final | England | Argentina won 2-1 | Scored both goals |
| Semi-final | Belgium | Argentina won 2-0 | Scored both goals |
| Final | West Germany | Argentina won 3-2 | Key creative influence |
The tournament itself underwent significant change before it even began. Colombia had originally been expected to host the 1986 World Cup, but on 26 October 1982 President Belisario Betancur announced that economic difficulties made organisation impossible. The expansion of the tournament from 16 to 24 teams required at least 10 major stadiums, infrastructure Colombia could not provide at the time.
Mexico then entered the bidding process alongside the United States and Canada. Backed by influential football administrator Guillermo Cañedo, Mexico was awarded hosting rights on 19 May 1983, becoming the first nation to stage the World Cup twice.
Only eight months before the tournament, Mexico suffered a devastating earthquake in September 1985. Official figures reported around 10,000 deaths, while some unofficial estimates were considerably higher. Large sections of Mexico City were destroyed, although all 12 designated World Cup stadiums remained structurally intact.
Key Facts About the 1986 World Cup
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Nation | Mexico |
| Participating Teams | 24 |
| Champions | Argentina |
| Runners-up | West Germany |
| Final Score | Argentina 3-2 West Germany |
| Tournament Star | Diego Maradona |
The format was also revised. The 24 teams were divided into six groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing alongside the four best third-placed sides. As a result, teams such as Bulgaria and Uruguay progressed to the knockout stage without winning a match.
Matches were frequently scheduled in intense afternoon heat to accommodate European television audiences. Despite the conditions, the tournament produced several memorable fixtures, including France’s penalty shoot-out victory over Brazil after a 1-1 draw, Belgium’s 4-3 win against the Soviet Union and Spain’s 5-1 victory over Denmark.
The competition also produced unusual off-field stories. Canada, appearing at their first World Cup, relied heavily on indoor football players because the outdoor game had limited popularity domestically. Coach Tony Waiters reportedly assembled only 18 confirmed players and kept four others on standby near telephones in case replacements became necessary. Canada lost all three matches without scoring.
Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo also attracted attention for a series of personal superstitions. These included drinking coffee in the same shopping centre before every match, arranging haircuts before games and ensuring a particular song played as the team bus arrived at stadiums. Even after Argentina defeated West Germany in the final, Bilardo reportedly remained dissatisfied because both German goals had come from headers following corner kicks.