Peter Shilton, the former England goalkeeper, has officially made peace with Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal that knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup. The 76-year-old, who played for Nottingham Forest and earned 125 caps for England, conceded it was time to 'put his beef to bed' after meeting some of the Argentine players who won the tournament that year.
40 Years of Hurt Finally Laid to Rest
Speaking on the football field of Chelmsford FC in his hometown, Shilton said: '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 reconciliation event was organised by Lynx, which flew in its Argentinian mascot as part of the brand's sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Zoe Thompson from Lynx added: 'As proud sponsors of the FIFA World Cup 2026, we want to show up in ways nobody expects. Settling one of football's greatest ever grudges? We'd say that's a pretty good start.'
VAR Would Have Changed History
Shilton also claimed that modern VAR technology would have ruled out both of Maradona's goals in the 2-1 defeat on June 22, 1986. 'If it was around, both goals wouldn't have been allowed. It's as simple as that,' he 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.'
He acknowledged that VAR can slow the game down but insisted it would have been decisive in that match: 'VAR does take quite a while sometimes to decide a decision. So, in that respect, it does slow the game down a little bit. But obviously in the instance of the quarter final game in Mexico, I definitely think that both goals we conceded wouldn't have been allowed.'
England's Chances in 2026
Shilton shared his thoughts on England's prospects for the 2026 World Cup, highlighting the impact of conditions and key players. 'The conditions are going to play a massive part. The first game we played in, it was obviously in an air-conditioned stadium. But when you get out in the real heat, you know that can be very sapping. At least they're having water breaks in the matches, which will help.'
He praised captain Harry Kane: 'I think Harry Kane looks as though he's on top form. He's been playing in Germany, which seems to have developed his game I think. He seems to be playing all over the pitch now. He was in defence of the night blocking shots, he was in midfield and obviously scoring goals.'
Other Teams to Watch
Shilton also identified other strong contenders: 'I think Spain look very good. I think France have got some really good players obviously. Brazil are always going to have a fantastic team from their past record, but I haven't seen a lot of the team. But a lot of teams have really improved by players going and playing in Europe. So it could be somebody who would surprise everybody.'
The former goalkeeper reflected on the unifying power of football: 'Controversial moments have a way to pull a nation together, whether it's impactful in a great way or impactful in a subway. Football's such a great sport. 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.'
