England legend Peter Shilton has finally forgiven Diego Maradona for one of the most controversial moments in football history, admitting it is time to let go of the infamous 'Hand of God' goal that knocked England out of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
The former Nottingham Forest and England goalkeeper spent decades refusing to forgive Maradona after the Argentine icon used his hand to score the opening goal in the sides' quarter-final clash in Mexico City on June 22, 1986.
Now, almost 40 years later, Shilton says meeting several members of Argentina's World Cup-winning squad has helped him move on.
"It's been 40 years since the event. And, you know, I've met Argentinian people that have been very warm and friendly towards me.
“I met some of the Argentinian players not so long back making a documentary, and it was very emotional really. They were really great towards me.
“And I think maybe it's time to put my beef to bed. Those are the reasons why I've decided to do it."
The match between England and Argentina remains one of the most famous - and emotionally charged - games ever played. It came just four years after the Falklands War, meaning political tensions between the two nations were still high.
While players insisted they were focused on football, the fixture carried enormous symbolic significance for supporters on both sides.
With the game locked at 0-0 early in the second half, controversy erupted.
Maradona chased a looping ball into England's penalty area alongside the much taller Shilton, who came off his line expecting to punch it clear. Instead, Maradona leapt and deliberately used his left fist to nudge the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Neither the Tunisian referee nor his assistant spotted the handball, and the goal was allowed to stand despite furious protests from England's players.
After the match, Maradona famously joked that the goal had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The phrase instantly entered football folklore and has remained one of the sport's most recognisable moments ever since.
Maradona. Andrew Will, Shutterstock
Remarkably, the controversy was overshadowed just four minutes later when Maradona produced what is widely regarded as the greatest goal in World Cup history.
Collecting the ball inside his own half, he dribbled past five England outfield players before rounding Shilton and calmly slotting home. The breathtaking solo effort was later voted FIFA's "Goal of the Century", creating the extraordinary contrast of one player scoring both football's most controversial goal and arguably its greatest in the same match.
England pulled one back late on through Gary Lineker, who finished the tournament as the competition's top scorer with six goals, but Argentina held on for a 2-1 victory to book their place in the semi-finals.
Maradona went on to inspire Argentina to World Cup glory, defeating West Germany 3-2 in the final to lift what remains the nation's second World Cup title. His performances throughout the tournament are still considered among the finest individual displays ever produced at a World Cup, cementing his status as one of football's all-time greats.
For Shilton, however, the handball remained a painful memory for decades.
The former goalkeeper repeatedly criticised Maradona during his lifetime, arguing that he never properly apologised or admitted wrongdoing.
Even after Maradona's death in 2020, Shilton said he wished the football legend had acknowledged the incident more honestly.
Speaking now, though, the 75-year-old says enough time has passed to move on.
He also believes that if today's technology had existed in 1986, the outcome would have been very different.
"If it was around, both goals wouldn't have been allowed. It's as simple as that," he said.
While the first goal would almost certainly have been overturned by VAR because of the clear handball, Shilton believes the second may also have been chalked off due to a foul earlier in the move, although the stunning solo run itself remains one of the defining moments in football history.
FIFA World Cup 2026.
As England prepare for another shot at World Cup glory, Shilton also shared his belief that the current squad has every chance of lifting the trophy.
