'Hand of God' goal was ungodly, says Maradona

A piece of football controversy has been settled—20 years late and after the retirement of the legend behind the row.

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has apologised for his ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the quarterfinal of the 1986 World Cup.

"If I could apologise and go back and change history I would do. But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world ," Maradona told the Sun tabloid in London.

"I cannot change history. All I can do now is move on,” he said during an interview to the paper.

Maradona has never apologised for the goal before and after the match said it had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.

Maradona's first goal in the match in Mexico was adjudged a legitimate header by the match referee, but TV replays confirmed that he had illegally punched the ball in with his hand.

The controversy over that incident overshadowed Maradona's superb solo second goal, which saw him dribble past five England players before shooting past Shilton. Argentina went on to win the World Cup that year, defeating the then West Germany 3-2 in the final.

Maradona, in the interview to Sun, said he didn’t consider former England captain David Beckham to be a “great” footballer. Beckham is "just a good player, nothing more. He's not a great player. He doesn't belong to the superior group of players," he said.

"There are hundreds of Beckhams playing football all over the world.”