Mexico became the first country to stage the FIFA World Cup™ finals for a second time when football's greatest show returned to the site of Brazil's 1970 triumph, but this time it was Argentina who shrugged off the heat and high altitude to emerge victorious, inspired by their captain Diego Maradona who dominated the tournament in a way that arguably only Pele had done before.
Argentina was captained by the 25-year old Diego Maradona, who played a large part in his team's success. Maradona scored the "Hand of God" goal, as well as another voted "Goal of the Century", in the same quarter-final against England.
These were two of the five goals that Maradona scored during the tournament, and he also created another five for his teammates. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.
Diego Maradona and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge shake hands before the 1986 World Cup final, in which Argentina beat West Germany 3-2. Photo: REX
The 1986 World Cup saw the appearance of an audience phenomenon dubbed the Mexican wave, which was popularised worldwide after featuring during the tournament.
In the second round matches Belgium beat the Soviet Union 4–3, despite a hat-trick by the Soviets' Igor Belanov, and the European champions France ended Italy's reign as world champions with a 2–0 victory thanks to goals from Michel Platini and Yannick Stopyra.
In the rematch of the 1930 FIFA World Cup Final, Argentina just edged out South American champions Uruguay in Puebla thanks to a 42nd-minute strike from Pedro Pasculli.
The all-South American affair had a Diego Maradona's goal disallowed. England progressed to the quarter-finals comfortably when they saw off Paraguay 3–0, while Brazil brushed aside Poland 4–0.
Burruchaga scores the winner for Argentina after Germany’s comeback in the 1986 World Cup Final.
The quarter-final between Argentina and England at the Azteca featured two very different goals in the second half by Diego Maradona.
He punched the ball into the goal past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
With the referee failing to see the handball and the goal was given as valid. After the game, Maradona claimed the goal was scored "A bit with the head of Maradona and another bit with the hand of God"; it became known as the "Hand of God" goal.
For his second goal, voted "Goal of the Century" in 2002 on the FIFA website, Maradona dribbled half the length of the field past five English players before scoring.
Captain Diego Armando Maradona with the FIFA World Cup at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.
Gary Lineker pulled one back nine minutes from time to score his sixth goal of the tournament and finish as top-scorer.
In the final against West Germany Brown and Valdano gave Argentina a two-goal lead, but the Wet Germans made yet another comeback late in the match with goals from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller.
With seven minutes remaining, a pass from Maradona gave Jorge Burruchaga the chance to score the winner for Argentina.
Eight years on from their home triumph, Argentina regained the world title and 30 million people in Argentina celebrated in the streets after the final victory.