It is time to place Diego Maradona’s iconic Hand of God into the annals of history. For 40 years, that moment, along with Maradona’s unforgettable “For English football, this is more painful than the Hand of God,” has defined the essence and fervor of Argentinian football. However, the landscape has transformed significantly, largely due to Lionel Messi’s influence. By redefining his legacy beyond that of Maradona, Messi is crafting a new narrative for Argentina.
The recent 2–1 semi-final victory against England highlighted a rejuvenated Argentine team that will enter Sunday’s final against Spain with a singular focus: exceptional football.
“The English consider the Hand of God to be illegal, a cheat,” remarks Tomás Abraham, an avid football analyst and philosopher. At 79 years old, Abraham organizes his life around watching Champions League and Premier League matches from his spacious flat in Colegiales, a vibrant neighborhood in Buenos Aires.
“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 continues. “The difference between Diego and Leo is their private lives,”
For many years, a significant segment of Argentinians held a dismissive view of Messi, clinging to the myth of Maradona. In their eyes, Messi could never measure up to Maradona; he was expected to dissolve under pressure, especially when facing tough defenders in the Copa Libertadores.
However, Messi’s greatest achievement lies in transcending the shadow of Maradona, earning both recognition and affection from his compatriots.
Maradona represented more than just a footballer; he was the embodiment of a particular form of Argentinidad. For a long time, understanding Maradona was essential to grasping Argentina, but eventually, it became clear that understanding Argentina also required understanding Maradona due to their intertwined identities.
Maradona captured the essence of a proud and self-assured Argentina, one that believed in its destined greatness. This belief allowed him to express opinions on a variety of subjects, from George Bush to the Pope, FIFA and his idols Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. His views were often contradictory, as he could love and hate the same person within months.
A man of immense talent and often a kind heart, Maradona also had a knack for disparaging others and stirring controversy. His complexities mirrored the dual nature of his country, marked by brilliance and shadow.
Having received a quality education, Maradona understood the significance of words and had a unique ability to articulate himself, despite his humble beginnings.
In contrast, Messi, shaped by a different, less assertive Argentina, lacks that same eloquence; his vocabulary is limited and his sentences often brief, though he has shown significant improvement over time. This has shaped a new identity for Argentinian football and culture.
Carlos Mac Allister, who played alongside Maradona for Argentina, is also the father of Alexis Mac Allister. He has spent weeks in the U.S. watching his son at 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 notes. “I’m sure Diego is enjoying this immensely from up above. Let him enjoy it, because it’s a gift for him too.”
Another reason the Hand of God has become a relic lies in the inquiry into Maradona’s death on November 25, 2020, and whether it could have been prevented. This investigation did not capture front-page headlines, nor did it sustain public interest. Many Argentinians, seemingly embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding Maradona’s death, opted to subtly move on. Embracing Messi was a natural progression.
Following the victory over England, Messi shared heartfelt sentiments for Maradona, who had 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 focus on the Hand of God is to delve into the annals of football prehistory, discussing something that feels irrelevant today, as columnist Héctor Gambini articulated 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, one of Maradona’s closest friends, asserts that Maradona is no longer the best. “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 also critiques the English perspective on their 1986 encounter by referencing 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 regarding 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 remarks.
Argentina has enriched Spanish football, and in turn, Spanish clubs have fostered the development of Argentinian players. The roster of Argentinians who have played and managed in Spain is extensive: Di Stéfano and Messi, but also Mario Kempes, Maradona, César Luis Menotti, Carlos Bilardo, and Lionel Scaloni, among many others.
Mac Allister emphasizes that Argentina is no longer solely reliant on Messi, unlike at the World Cup’s onset. 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.” Mac Allister explains. “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.”
As Uruguayan journalist Emiliano Hernández Pereyra observes, many of his compatriots, frustrated by a disappointing World Cup, are envious of Argentina. “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.”
