Shilton finally makes peace with Maradona's 'Hand of God' after 40 years of hurt

Peter Shilton has declared he is finally at peace with Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, 40 years after the Argentina legend’s deliberate handball knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City on June 22.

The former England goalkeeper, who was beaten by Maradona’s left hand in a 2-1 defeat that ended England’s tournament, said a recent meeting with several members of that Argentina squad — during the filming of a documentary — helped shift his perspective after decades of frustration.

“It’s been 40 years since the event,” Shilton said. “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.”

The symbolic reconciliation took place on the pitch at Chelmsford FC, Shilton’s hometown club.

The former Nottingham Forest shot-stopper also argued that modern VAR technology would have disallowed both of Maradona’s goals that day — the handball opener and the solo run that followed, widely regarded as one of the greatest individual goals ever scored.

“If it was around, both goals wouldn’t have been allowed. It’s as simple as that,” Shilton said. “You never know what’s going to happen in the game. So who knows what the score would have been. But certainly the two goals scored wouldn’t have been allowed.”

While acknowledging that VAR can slow the game down, Shilton was unequivocal that it would have changed the course of that quarter-final entirely.

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Shilton expressed optimism about England’s prospects, singling out Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as a player in particularly strong form after a productive season in Germany. He also noted that the heat and conditions in the host nations will be a significant factor for all competing teams, welcoming the introduction of water breaks during matches.

“Football’s such a great sport,” Shilton reflected. “It draws nations together, people together. And obviously certain moments, good or bad, stick in the memory over the years. And that’s why football has got such a great history.”