Argentina were 2–0 ahead in the World Cup Final.

With ten minutes remaining, Diego Maradona appeared moments away from completing one of the greatest tournaments ever played by an individual footballer.

Then West Germany fought back.

Two goals in six minutes.

2–2.

The momentum had shifted. Extra time seemed inevitable.

But Maradona had one more moment left.

Receiving the ball deep inside his own half, he threaded a pass through the German defence. Jorge Burruchaga ran onto it and scored. Argentina led 3–2.

The goal won the World Cup.

Earlier, France had defeated Belgium 4–2 in one of the finest third-place matches in tournament history. But the story of Mexico 1986 belonged to one man.

At twenty-five years old, Diego Maradona stood on top of the football world.

Then came everything that followed.

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The 1986 World Cup produced great matches long before Argentina met England.

Belgium eliminated the Soviet Union in one of the tournament's most dramatic games. Denmark arrived as one of the favourites, led Spain 1–0, and then collapsed to a 5–1 defeat. Italy's reign as world champions ended against France.

Then came the match everyone remembers.

Argentina versus England.

In the second half, Diego Maradona rose with goalkeeper Peter Shilton and punched the ball into the net. The goal stood. Afterwards, Maradona famously described it as being scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."

Four minutes later he collected the ball inside his own half, dribbled past half the England team, and scored what many consider the greatest goal in football history.

Two goals.

Four minutes apart.

One controversial, one magnificent.

Together they created football's most enduring legend.

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Before he became the most famous footballer on Earth, he was a boy from Villa Fiorito.

A child growing up in a Buenos Aires shantytown without running water or reliable electricity. On his third birthday he received a football and slept with it tucked beneath his shirt because he feared it might be stolen.

His name was Diego Maradona.

As the 1986 World Cup began, the tournament was already producing remarkable stories. The Soviet Union defeated Hungary 6–0. Denmark dismantled Uruguay 6–1 and looked unstoppable. Morocco became the first African nation to top a World Cup group.

Then tragedy struck when Scotland manager Jock Stein collapsed and died on the touchline after his team secured a place in the playoffs.

The stage was set for one of the most extraordinary World Cups in football history.

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