38 years ago, on June 29, 1986 in Mexico, the Argentine soccer team, under the direction of Carlos Salvador Bilardo and with the brilliance of Diego Maradona, won its second world title.
At the Azteca Stadium, with goals from Tata Brown, Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga, Argentina defeated Germany 3-2 in a final that will remain etched in the collective memory.
After having beaten England and Belgium, the national team faced West Germany in a final full of emotions. Although Maradona did not score in the final, his assist to Burruchaga for the winning goal was crucial, consolidating the final 3-2 and the second star on the AFA shield.
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{{msg}} {{msg}}The final began with a header from the late José Luis Brown 23 minutes into the first half, beating German goalkeeper Schumacher.
In the second half, Jorge Valdano extended the lead to 2-0 in the 56th minute. However, Germany fought back and tied the match with goals from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller.
It was then that Maradona, with a stroke of genius, assisted Jorge Burruchaga to score the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, securing the title for Argentina.
The road to glory was not easy: the team’s preparation had been turbulent, with uncertain performances and a distressing qualification. From the opening match against South Korea to the final, the team underwent changes and adjustments, with players such as Néstor Clausen and Claudio Borghi being sidelined after the first few games.
But as the tournament progressed, the team consolidated. The quarter-final against England was memorable, with Maradona scoring two of the most iconic goals in football history. The first, known as the “Hand of God”, and the second, “The goal of the century”, demonstrated Diego’s skill and mischief.
In the semifinals, Maradona shone again against Belgium, securing a place in the final with two more goals, establishing himself as the best player of the tournament. It was in that match when Ricardo Enrique Bochini entered for Burruchaga and Maradona told him: “Master pass, we were waiting for you.” Here is a summary of Diego’s performance in that match:
The final against Germany was the ultimate challenge: although the German team was strong and had overcome powerful rivals, fate seemed to be on Argentina’s side.
Maradona, who had an exceptional performance throughout the tournament, touched 62 balls per game, received an average of 7.4 fouls and tried to score 49 times. His contribution culminated with the decisive assist to Burruchaga, which sealed the final victory.
Mexico 1986 will always be remembered as the perfect and unforgettable World Cup. It was the tournament where Diego Maradona rose to the Olympus of football and made us all happier than ever. (NA).
