Key Takeaways at a Glance

• Diego Maradona won the FIFA World Cup in 1986, captaining Argentina to victory in Mexico.
• He was named Player of the Tournament, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists across 7 matches.
• The "Hand of God" goal against England occurred on June 22, 1986, during the quarter-final.
• The legendary "Goal of the Century" against England happened just five minutes later in the same match.
• Argentina defeated West Germany 3–2 in the final held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 29, 1986.
• This was Argentina's second World Cup title, with their first coming in 1978.

Direct Answer: What Year Did Maradona Win the World Cup?

Diego Armando Maradona won the FIFA World Cup in 1986. The tournament was hosted by Mexico and ran from May 31 to June 29, 1986. Maradona served as captain of the Argentine national team and is widely regarded as the single most dominant force in a single World Cup campaign in history.

His performance throughout the tournament has been described by FIFA itself as the greatest individual contribution by any player in World Cup history. No other player has matched his combination of goals, assists, and influence across every knockout round.

1986 World Cup Breakdown: Argentina's Road to Glory

Group Stage Performances

Argentina was placed in Preliminary Group B alongside Korea Republic, Bulgaria, and Italy. Here is how they performed:

• Argentina 1–0 Korea Republic — Juan Carlos Argote own goal (May 31)
• Argentina 2–1 Bulgaria — Maradona scored both goals (June 2)
• Argentina 1–0 Italy — Jorge Burruchaga penalty (June 5)

Argentina finished top of Group B with 6 points from 3 matches, conceding only one goal all tournament in the group stage.

Knockout Stage: Where History Was Made

• Round of 16 vs. Uruguay (June 8): Argentina won 1–0. Maradona delivered a masterclass in midfield control.
• Quarter-Final vs. England (June 22): Argentina won 2–1 in what remains the most controversial and celebrated match in World Cup history. Maradona scored both goals — one with his hand, one with his foot.
• Semi-Final vs. Belgium (June 29): Argentina won 2–0. Maradona scored once and assisted the other.
• Final vs. West Germany (June 29): Argentina won 3–2. Juan Román Riquelme (Burruchaga), Jorge Valdano, and José Luis Brown scored. Maradona lifted the trophy.

Maradona's 1986 World Cup Statistics

Maradona 1986 vs. Other Legendary World Cup Captains