World Cup Final 29 June 1986

Azteca Stadium, Mexico City
Argentina 3 (Brown 23, Valdano 55, Burruchaga 83) West Germany 2 (Rummenigge 74, Voller 80)

Argentina: Pumpido, Olarticoechea, Ruggeri, Brown, Cuciuffo, Giusti, Batista, Enrique, Burruchaga (Trobbiani 88), Maradona , Valdano.

West Germany: Schumacher, Berthold, Briegel, Jakobs, K-H. Forster, Eder, Brehme, Matthaus, Allofs (Voller 46), Magath (D. Hoeness 60), Rummenigge.

Referee: Filho (Brazil) Yellow Cards: Maradona, Enrique, Pumpido, Olarticoechea, Matthaus, Briegel

Argentina had moved into the Final on the back of ever-improving performances, inspired by the world¹s best player, Diego Maradona.

His double had accounted for England in the quarter-finals and another double put paid to Belgium in the semis. Only West Germany stood between Maradona and his dream of a second World Cup win for Argentina. The supporting cast of Ruggeri, Valdano and Burruchaga could not be discounted, but Maradona was the guiding light.

West Germany had started the competition slowly, but a 4-1 quarter-final win over hosts Mexico and a second successive semi-final win over France, had propelled them to the verge of a third World Cup win.

After a quiet opening, centre-half Jose Luis Brown gave Argentina the lead as Schumacher came and missed a free-kick from the left. The Germans were struggling to find any rhythm and Maradona was threatening their defence at every opportunity.

Ten minutes into the second half, Jorge Valdano was put clear on the left and moved forward before beating Schumacher from about 12 yards out, at that point Maradona and co had one hand on the trophy.

However, as they had done before, the Germans launched a massive effort to rescue the game. With just 14 minutes left, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge bundled home a corner to give Germany hope, hope that turned to ealtion just four minutes later. Another corner form the left was headed back by Berthold and Rudi Voller nodded in from close range to level the scores.

Argentinian despair was there for all to see, but Maradona was not to be denied. With just seven minutes left his perceptive pass through the German defence put Burruchaga in the clear on the right and he slotted the ball home as Schumacher was slow to come off his line.

Maradona stood with both arms aloft as the final whistle went, knowing that he had cemented his place amongst the World Cup legends, by securing victory for his side when it really mattered. There was little argument that this time around, the best team had won the World Cup, with Argentina winning for the second time in three competitions.