Simply the greatest INDIVIDUAL goal ever scored in a WC. I can’t believe some of the nonsense above about the English defending. This was one of the greatest players ever at the height of his powers.
Two funny stories about this goal:
1. After the game, the Argentina player who gave Maradona the short ball to start the amazing run, said ( with a wide grin on his face!)….”Sure everybody is talking about Diego’s goal,….but what about my pass?”
2. After the game, in the Argentina dressing room,…a teammate of Maradona’s shouted “Diego,…I kept calling to you to pass me the ball,…but you didn’t!”. To which Maradona replied, “I know,… I saw you. I kept trying to pass the ball to you but the English kept getting in the way!”
I also once read an interview with a player from the England team (Peter Reid, maybe?) during which he said that there was no mention of Maradona either before the match or during half-time. Zero plans to contain him. It was as if the England coaching staff didn’t even know he existed. Amazing.
Some of you people are just haters or too young to know what the heck you’re talking about. Diego was amazing for club and country and this goal is a snapshot of everything That was great about him… Body control, feints and agility. Messi is great but even he would probably say he’s no Diego. Stop being fanboys and separate out his personal life. You probably think that LeBron is better than Michael Jordan too. Geez
To really understand “El Diego” you really have to watch any game in his prime. Watch the entire England vs. Argentina (1986 Mexico) game and he really plays amazing soccer. When Maradona takes it to 99 mph, its amazing. He then conserves his energy (by his standards) the rest of the game. Truly a treat to see.
He never would had made that run except he was trying to absolve himself for his obvious cheating earlier in the game. I think that has haunted him his whole life and it should what a cheater.
Both goals were great, but you should take into account the level of competition. Maradona’s goal was scored in a WC quarterfinal against England (when England had a much better team than now), while Messi scored against the lowly Getafe. I am not saying one goal is better than another, but the stakes and competition level were much higher in the WC game.
Maradona made many defenders look poor. The game was in Estadio Azteca. England’s players were gassed after chasing the ball at a high altitude in bad quality air against a technically superior Argentina team.
Amazing uninformed comments here. The pace at which Maradona did those things was incredible. The defenders are running as fast as they can. The close control at sub 5.0 sec 40yd pace has never been duplicated. Maradona could do that game in and game out. That anyone caught up to attempt a tackle at the end is a credit to the great commitment to defending.
To appreciate Maradona you really had to see him in person. Phenomenal. He didn’t make any particularly tricky moves, he just did everything at such pace and with such control that the rest of the players on the pitch kind of disappeared.
I don’t like the pick. I think a great goal is a team effort. That’s why the game is beautiful, because 11 men are working together to succeed.
Maradona’s goal probably is the single greatest individual goal in the sport’s history. The way he shredded the defense with his speed and mesmerized them with his dribbling touch, it was all amazing, and then to finish it off, all on the biggest stage, you have to admire it.
I would just rather see an amazing sequence of passing and movement followed with a diffult clinical finish be the “goal of the century”.
But I also like Marco Etcheverry’s goal against Brazil, which made it possible for Bolivia to win (2-0) and qualify for the U.S. World Cup of ’94… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9TDqhlQXnA
First of all, it’s not a “run.” Secondly, fine. You just go on and find the 10 clips of Leo picking the ball up on the other side of midfield and beat 6 defenders, scoring a goal against a world class opponent. You know what – just get me one. Go on… I’ll wait.
yeah the clip posted here doesn’t do it justice. For those saying it was poor defending, you have to look at it more closely. Maradonna and Wayne Gretzky are similar in that they used very subtle body positioning feints to deceive defenders.
here is a link to much better footage of the goal with multiple angeles, still some debate about whether it was actually an own goal by Terry Butcher… shame that he cheated for his first in the match..
Messi’s goal is a cover version of Maradona’s.
Simply the greatest INDIVIDUAL goal ever scored in a WC. I can’t believe some of the nonsense above about the English defending. This was one of the greatest players ever at the height of his powers.
Two funny stories about this goal:
1. After the game, the Argentina player who gave Maradona the short ball to start the amazing run, said ( with a wide grin on his face!)….”Sure everybody is talking about Diego’s goal,….but what about my pass?”
2. After the game, in the Argentina dressing room,…a teammate of Maradona’s shouted “Diego,…I kept calling to you to pass me the ball,…but you didn’t!”. To which Maradona replied, “I know,… I saw you. I kept trying to pass the ball to you but the English kept getting in the way!”
I also once read an interview with a player from the England team (Peter Reid, maybe?) during which he said that there was no mention of Maradona either before the match or during half-time. Zero plans to contain him. It was as if the England coaching staff didn’t even know he existed. Amazing.
Pele was better. I saw them both.
good point.
Some of you people are just haters or too young to know what the heck you’re talking about. Diego was amazing for club and country and this goal is a snapshot of everything That was great about him… Body control, feints and agility. Messi is great but even he would probably say he’s no Diego. Stop being fanboys and separate out his personal life. You probably think that LeBron is better than Michael Jordan too. Geez
Oh for f***’s sake Terry Butcher, just make the tackle!
26 years on, the pain remains.
Fear the ewok.
good lord what a goal! I am just imagining what a Ray Hudson call on that goal would have sounded like…
To really understand “El Diego” you really have to watch any game in his prime. Watch the entire England vs. Argentina (1986 Mexico) game and he really plays amazing soccer. When Maradona takes it to 99 mph, its amazing. He then conserves his energy (by his standards) the rest of the game. Truly a treat to see.
He never would had made that run except he was trying to absolve himself for his obvious cheating earlier in the game. I think that has haunted him his whole life and it should what a cheater.
That looked like handball to me, what was that… Oh it was God i’m sorry! I wonder if God supplied him all his drugs too.
Stupid american idiot!!
Both goals were great, but you should take into account the level of competition. Maradona’s goal was scored in a WC quarterfinal against England (when England had a much better team than now), while Messi scored against the lowly Getafe. I am not saying one goal is better than another, but the stakes and competition level were much higher in the WC game.
Maradona made many defenders look poor. The game was in Estadio Azteca. England’s players were gassed after chasing the ball at a high altitude in bad quality air against a technically superior Argentina team.
I kept saying to myself while watching that… “I sure wish that were in HD” That’d make it even more incredible.
He should have been out with a red card for an intentional handball earlier in the game. Cheaters prosper?
Amazing uninformed comments here. The pace at which Maradona did those things was incredible. The defenders are running as fast as they can. The close control at sub 5.0 sec 40yd pace has never been duplicated. Maradona could do that game in and game out. That anyone caught up to attempt a tackle at the end is a credit to the great commitment to defending.
To appreciate Maradona you really had to see him in person. Phenomenal. He didn’t make any particularly tricky moves, he just did everything at such pace and with such control that the rest of the players on the pitch kind of disappeared.
All you can do is chuckle.
I don’t like the pick. I think a great goal is a team effort. That’s why the game is beautiful, because 11 men are working together to succeed.
Maradona’s goal probably is the single greatest individual goal in the sport’s history. The way he shredded the defense with his speed and mesmerized them with his dribbling touch, it was all amazing, and then to finish it off, all on the biggest stage, you have to admire it.
I would just rather see an amazing sequence of passing and movement followed with a diffult clinical finish be the “goal of the century”.
i was referring to the Messi goal – both were great goals but to me the Messi goal was a class of its own…
now that was stunning!!
I guess I’m just less impressed than you guys.
Not bad Maradona.
But I also like Marco Etcheverry’s goal against Brazil, which made it possible for Bolivia to win (2-0) and qualify for the U.S. World Cup of ’94…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9TDqhlQXnA
:>)
I’m just sayin…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oaqSj9hpM4
I’m invoking Poe’s law – cut it out, people!
…still waiting
yeah, I’m not sure whether people are being stupid or clever … there’s a fine line between those two
Love it
This Maradona character is pretty good, even when he isn’t scoring with his hand.
First of all, it’s not a “run.” Secondly, fine. You just go on and find the 10 clips of Leo picking the ball up on the other side of midfield and beat 6 defenders, scoring a goal against a world class opponent. You know what – just get me one. Go on… I’ll wait.
Is this an epidemic of bad irony or just insanity? Clearly one of the greatest goals in the history of the game.
Messi is better. Magnitude of this goal was big, but Messi has 10 runs better than this…last year.
yeah the clip posted here doesn’t do it justice. For those saying it was poor defending, you have to look at it more closely. Maradonna and Wayne Gretzky are similar in that they used very subtle body positioning feints to deceive defenders.
still remember watching this goal live (well, live on TV) it was just magical
The mids and defense never expected for him to go all the way, they are just shadow him at half speed, terrible defending.
poor defending..but he does have a bit of Freddie Adu in him
Those were some nice shorts.
yes… he does indeed look in great shape.. he and Clint Mathis would be quite duo
http://svt.se/content/1/c6/31/97/35/maradona-alexandra-svt-050120.jpg
here is a link to much better footage of the goal with multiple angeles, still some debate about whether it was actually an own goal by Terry Butcher… shame that he cheated for his first in the match..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pnSvfHiUqk
I heard his father was a US serviceman. Any truth to that? If so, I think Klinsmann should cap him right away.
Exactly! I don’t think that would even make sportscenter’s top 10 today.
Im crying!
Is it strange that I think that part of that video was just really poor defending?
That Maradona character has a future.