The time has come to relegate Diego Maradona’s Hand of God to the annals of history. For four decades, that controversial moment, along with Maradona’s iconic “For English football, this is more painful than the Hand of God,” shaped the passion of Argentinian football. Today, however, the narrative has shifted, largely due to Lionel Messi. By emerging from Maradona’s shadow, Messi is forging a new identity for Argentina.
Argentina’s recent 2-1 semi-final triumph over England displayed a rejuvenated team heading into Sunday’s final against Spain, armed with one clear advantage: exceptional football.
“The English consider the Hand of God to be illegal, a cheat,” comments Tomás Abraham, a lifelong writer and philosopher, though his true passion lies in football.
At 79, Abraham tailors his day around Champions League and Premier League games, watching them from his spacious apartment in Colegiales, a trendy area of Buenos Aires, or from his book-filled study where he immerses himself in writing.
“And this hurts all the more because they were defeated by a superior team that they were particularly keen to beat. The wound runs deeper.” Abraham states. “The difference between Diego and Leo is their private lives,”
For years, a significant number of Argentinians held Messi in low regard, clinging to the myth of Maradona. They believed Messi could never match up to Maradona; they thought he would falter under pressure in the Copa Libertadores against tough defenders.
This perception has shifted, and Messi’s greatest achievement is breaking free from the Maradona comparison, winning the affection and respect of his compatriots.
Maradona represented more than just a footballer; he epitomized a particular essence of Argentinian identity. For a long time, one could not fully grasp Maradona without understanding Argentina, but eventually, the reverse became true as the two became inseparable.
Maradona embodied the flamboyant, proud spirit of Argentina, a nation confident in its potential as a superpower. This also explains Maradona’s boldness to express his views on various topics, from world leaders to sports authorities. He could easily switch from admiration to disdain for the same individual within months.
Possessing immense talent and often displaying kindness, Maradona was also known for his sharp tongue, capable of disparaging and provoking. Ultimately, he mirrored his country’s brilliance and shadows.
Despite a solid education, Maradona understood the weight of words, possessing a gift for expression that belied his humble beginnings.
In contrast, Messi, a product of a somewhat more subdued Argentina, lacks Maradona’s eloquence; his vocabulary is limited, and his sentences tend to be brief and straightforward, though he has improved significantly over the years. This is his comfort zone, shaping a distinct identity for Argentinian football.
Carlos Mac Allister, who played alongside Maradona for Argentina and is the father of current player Alexis Mac Allister, has spent weeks in the US watching his son during the World Cup and will be present for the final.
“And that’s not to speak ill of Diego. I’m not going to explain what he himself has already said. Thanks to Diego being Diego, Messi is Messi today. With an understanding of what happened, Messi was able to work out how to take the game to the next level.” he remarks. “I’m sure Diego is enjoying this immensely from up above. Let him enjoy it, because it’s a gift for him too.”
The symbolic burial of the Hand of God also ties into the investigation surrounding Maradona’s death on November 25, 2020, and whether it could have been averted. This inquiry received minimal media coverage, suggesting that Argentinians, perhaps embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding Maradona’s passing, chose to discreetly move on. Embracing Messi seems a fitting way to do so.
After defeating England, Messi expressed heartfelt sentiments for Maradona, who once criticized his leadership.
“None of the players who took part in this Argentina v England match had even been born when Maradona scored his immortal goals,”
To linger on the Hand of God is to explore a bygone era, a notion that no longer resonates, as noted by columnist Héctor Gambini in Argentina’s leading newspaper.
“Goals that VAR would have disallowed: the first for a handball by the Blues’ No 10. The second for a foul by the Blues’ No 2 [Sergio Batista] on the Whites’ No 4 [Glenn Hoddle], following which Argentina regained possession, the ball ended up at Maradona’s feet and, 13 seconds later, in the English net.” he wrote. “Diego was the greatest of all … up to a point. But Messi has now surpassed him; what Messi has achieved is unsurpassable. Diego played for a team like Napoli, which was basically 10 donkeys and Diego. Messi played for a Barcelona side surrounded by stars. We have to be realistic and honest; I take my hat off to Messi.”
Mariano Israelit, a close friend of Maradona, believes that Maradona’s status as the greatest has been eclipsed. “An Englishman has no right whatsoever to say that Maradona scored with his hand or that he cheated, because the only tournament they ever won, they won with a goal that wasn’t a goal.”
Israelit critiques the English perspective on the 1986 game, recalling the 1966 World Cup final. “They ignore everything we’ve contributed to Spanish football: Alfredo Di Stéfano and Lionel Messi,”
Looking ahead to the final, Abraham expresses skepticism towards the European champions. “I see an Argentina team that had been playing at 60% of its capacity, but which played at 90% against England,” he asserts.
Argentina has enriched Spanish football in various ways, and Spanish clubs have nurtured Argentinian talent. The list of Argentinians who have played and coached in Spain is extensive: Di Stéfano and Messi, alongside Mario Kempes, Maradona, César Luis Menotti, Carlos Bilardo, and Lionel Scaloni, among many others.
Mac Allister points out that Argentina is no longer just about Messi, as they were at the beginning of the World Cup. The team has awakened. “Against Spain, it will need to play at 100%. One thing is clear: we were playing with heart and soul, but we were lacking a bit of finesse. Not any more – Argentina dominated England.” he notes. “These lads have everything I want for my country, but there are a lot of stubborn Uruguayans. Do you think Argentina are just lucky? Please … It’s an extraordinary team; they’ve got a certain something that no other team has.”
Similarly, Uruguayan journalist Emiliano Hernández Pereyra, frustrated with his compatriots who criticized Argentina during a disappointing World Cup, remarks, “Argentina makes them envious. These players possess everything I desire for my own country, but many stubborn Uruguayans refuse to acknowledge it. Do you really think Argentina’s success is mere luck? It’s an extraordinary team with a unique quality that no other squad possesses.”
- Argentina
- Diego Maradona
- Lionel Messi
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- features
