Legendary England Goalkeeper Peter Shilton Forgives Maradona 40 Years After 'Hand of God' Goal

Peter Shilton, the legendary former England goalkeeper, has publicly forgiven Diego Maradona nearly four decades after the infamous 1986 World Cup quarterfinal at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. Shilton, who played in that match where Maradona scored the controversial 'Hand of God' goal and a second brilliant solo effort, shared his feelings in a special interview coinciding with a new documentary he is filming. He explained that after holding onto anger for many years, a recent visit to Buenos Aires and the kindness he experienced there helped him decide to let go, especially since Maradona has passed away.

Shilton recalled the 1986 match where Argentina defeated England 2-1, emphasizing that professionally he acted correctly during the 'Hand of God' incident. He noted that Maradona reached the ball first and had to use his hand to beat him, adding that in today's VAR era both Argentine goals would have been disallowed due to clear fouls. He also recounted a lesser-known story about English midfielder Steve Hodge swapping shirts with Maradona after the game, a shirt later sold at auction in 2022 for a record £7.1 million, much to the team's frustration.

Looking ahead to England's upcoming match against Mexico at the same stadium, Shilton expressed concern about the physical challenges posed by the altitude and heat, noting that unlike in 1986 when the team trained for a month in Colorado to acclimate, the current squad will arrive directly from the plane and might struggle to adapt. The Azteca Stadium sits 2,240 meters above sea level, which Shilton believes will be a significant obstacle for the players.

This reflection comes as England, coached by Thomas Tuchel, prepares to face Mexico in a venue that holds both historic significance and difficult conditions for the English team.