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What was the “Hand of God”?

The “Hand of God” was the hand of Argentine player Diego Maradona — his left hand to be precise. In the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, as Argentina faced England, Maradona scored in the 51st minute on what appeared — at least to referee Ali Bennaceur — to be a header. However, virtually everyone else in attendance knew, or at least suspected, that, as Maradona and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton jumped for a ball that was coming down into the goal area off a high kick, Maradona had punched the ball in with his raised left hand. At the post-game press conference, Maradona claimed that the goal was scored “un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios” (“a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”). It turned out it was a lot with the hand of Maradona, as press photos appeared over the ensuing days clearly showing him punching the ball. Argentina defeated England 2–1 and went on to win the tournament. Maradona later admitted on TV that he’d hit the goal in with his hand.