Brazil legend Zico has revealed that the first Hand of God goal was scored by Diego Armando Maradona in a Serie A match against Udinese in 1984.
In the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup against England, the Argentinean scored one of football’s most iconic goals.
Zico, a former Udinese star who played against Maradona in the ‘80s has told La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maradona had done it before against the Friulani.
“It was 1984, I had just arrived in Udine. I didn’t play in Naples and he scored a brace.”
“We were 2-1 up but Diego scored the equalizer. The game was almost finished when they hit the crossbar and Diego anticipated our goalkeeper scoring with his hand.”
“The ref and his assistant didn’t notice it. I was furious, I run behind the referee and I told him: ‘Congratulations, continue like this, you are doing well.’ I was sent off and suspended for four games.”
“I often joked with him about his goal, I used to tell him: ‘You trained the Hand of God with us.’ He said: ‘You are the good part of football, I am the bad one.’”
