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Argentina's 1986 World Cup hero, Diego Armando Maradona, scored eight goals in his FIFA World Cup career with Argentina from 1982 to his controversial fall in the 1994 tournament in the United States.
Maradona contributed for Argentina's second championship and the last one so far in 1986 when he scored five goals and dished five assists in the Carlos Salvador Bilardo squad, which won the tournament after a 3-2 win in the final over Germany.
Maradona's most memorable goal came against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, when he scored after a fantastical display of ability and dribbling to put the score 2-0, adding to his "hand of God" goal to open up the score.
After his fantastic and controversial display versus England, the semifinals put Belgium in Argentina and Maradona's road to immortality. Maradona delivered again with a brace, with another memorable goal against the European squad and sealed a 2-0 victory for Argentina to advance to its third World Cup final, the second in eight years after its 1978 success on home soil.
It is time to rank Maradona's best goals under the FIFA World Cup umbrella. Out of El Pelusa's eight goals for Argentina in the biggest stage, let's list the top 3 for the Argentinian maestro, the best player to ever play in the Albiceleste shirt.
#3 Argentina versus Greece / 1994 World Cup
Maradona's return to World Cup duty was in 1994 when the World Cup arrived in the United States. Argentina had a fantastic team and with the likes of Sergio Goycochea, Oscar Ruggeri, Diego Pablo Simeone, Fernando Redondo, Claudio Caniggia and Gabriel Omar Batistuta, the squad, directed by Alfio Basile, was a clear favorite to win its third trophy home and tie Brazil, Italy, and Germany with three World Cup wins apiece.
Argentina's 1994 World Cup started off great, with a brilliant offensive display, included a hat-trick by Batistuta.
Maradona scored the third goal of the 4-0 win in the debut with a stunning left-foot shot after a fantastic collective play.
Maradona's last goal in the World Cup was on 21 June of 1994. The goalkeeper for the Greek side was Antonis Minou.
The Argentinian returned to his goalscoring habits in the World Cup after eight years. He couldn't score any goals for Argentina in the World Cup since his excellent match against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup semifinals, which was his most significant game in the 1986 campaign.
#2 Argentina versus England / 1986 World Cup
Maradona's most memorable match in his World Cup career was on 22 June of 1986 against England. In the quarterfinals of the tournament, Maradona scored his fourth and fifth goals in international football biggest stage.
The two goals are one of the most memorable ever: the "hand of God" and the "Goal of the century." Maradona's second goal over England is typically remembered as the best goal in World Cup history, particularly for the distance covered and the dribbling.
Maradona advanced through four English players and the goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, to put them 2-0 up and help them advance to the semis to play Belgium.
Maradona took the opportunity to recognize English players for being "noble" since he was not knocked out by a tackle during his run.
The match took place in the Estadio Azteca, in Mexico.
#1 Argentina versus Belgium / 1986 World Cup
Maradona's brilliant and polemic performance over England in the quarterfinals, which is often referred to as the greatest match of his career, especially for his second goal. But his following game, against Belgium in the semifinals, is undoubtedly the best of his World Cup career.
During his fantastic run in the 1986 tournament, Maradona was notable in producing offensive situations for his teammates, but against England and Belgium, he led his squad with goalscoring prowess.
He opened up the game with a great goal to put Argentina ahead 1-0 in the second half. Twelve minutes after, Maradona scored the best goal in his World Cup career.
Maradona faced three Belgian players and got between them successfully and entered the box in the left-hand side.
Then, his shot left Belgian goalkeeper, Jean-Marie Pfaff, helpless against the Argentinian greatness.
