On the day that marked the 40th anniversary of the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century”, Messi scored twice, surpassed Miroslav Klose and turned June 22 into an even more symbolic date for Argentine football.
The two biggest icons of Argentine football, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradonasaw their paths cross this Monday, June 22nd, when “La Pulga” became the best scorer in World Cup history — and the count could still rise.
Messi took his tally to 18 goals precisely on the day marking 40 years of the most memorable feat by Diego Armando Maradona, in 1986, against England.
On this June 22nd, Maradona won an eternal place in the Olympus of football and in the hearts of Argentines when he scored two amazing goalss against England, in the World Cup in Mexico, which would become known as the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century“.
Argentina eliminated England 2-1 in a tense quarter-final duel, against the backdrop of war fought four years earlier between the two countries via the Falkland Islands.
In the first of his goals against Azteca, Maradona jumped into the English box to challenge Steve Hodge’s cut, but when goalkeeper Peter Shilton left, he cunningly anticipated and deflected the ball with his fistwithout the referee noticing the trick.
“A little with Maradona’s head and a little with the hand of God“, this is how the Argentine star described the move.
Four minutes later, “Dieguito” pulled out of his hat what many consider the best goal of all time.
The number 10 recovered the ball in his own half and left the English behind in a run to the Shilton area, which he also feinted, to crown the move that FIFA would later recognize as the “Goal of the Century”.
Maradona’s gesture, seen by many Argentines as a form of justice after the defeat in the Falklands, remains alive in the country’s memoryas he himself explained on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the event.
“We realized we had done something historic for the mothers who lost their children in the Falklands and for the Argentine people”, said Maradona, who in 1986 won the only world trophy of his career.
A souvenir of Maradona’s featwho, as a result of a cardiorespiratory arrest, at the age of 60, was present in the Argentine team that beat Austria 2-0 in the second round of the 2026 World Cup, with two goals from Messi.
“I think I was at my grandmother’s house. It was a very small television. It was emotional. I didn’t know that tomorrow would mark the anniversary of this great goal, so let’s take advantage of it”, the “Albiceleste” coach told the press on Sunday. Lionel Scaloniremembering the “Goal of the Century”.
Revenge in Dallas
Argentina faced Austria in Dallas, a very symbolic city: it was there that Maradona ended his career with the national team.
Before playing in a game at the 1994 World Cup, he was informed in this city that the anti-doping control carried out after the previous match, against Nigeria, had tested positive. “They cut off my legs“, he then told the press, in one of his legendary phrases, after being removed from the tournament by FIFA.
The presence of Austria as Argentina’s opponent was yet another gesture of fate. In 1980, this same European team was victim of the only hat trick of Maradona with the “Albiceleste” jersey.
The natural heir of “El Pibe”, Lionel Messialso celebrated last week the first hat-trick of his career in a World Cupin the 3-0 victory in the debut against Algeria, in Kansas City.
With this feat, the Inter Miami player matched Miroslav Klose as the greatest scorer in the history of the World Cups, both with 16 goals. If I scored against Austria, jersey number 10 would be alone at the top and would add more mystique to June 22nd in Argentine football.
And this Monday, in Argentina’s reckoning with Dallasthe star from Rosário claimed the throne for himself by scoring two more goalsbringing the World Cup count to 18.
The feat also had a touch of drama, as Messi came very close to the record after faward a penalty in the 9th minute.
A redemption arrived at 38when he hit the Austrian goal with a well-aimed left-footed shot, making June 22 an even more sacred date for Argentine football. Already in discounts, Messi sealed the victory ao take advantage of a reload inside the box, surrounded by a crowd of Austrian defenders.
