The Match

The legendary 1986 FIFA World Cup game between Argentina and England – featuring Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal – is the centre of this thrilling, joyous Cannes-selected documentary. The Match features two of the most famous goals of all time – the first, Maradona’s illicit ‘Hand of God’ goal; the second, his miraculous, weaving, tremendously skilled strike to seal the win. It also explores the febrile geopolitical context of the match. Only a few years before, a territorial dispute over the Falkland Islands led to war between the United Kingdon and Argentina, leading to hundreds of casualties on both sides. While the players and team management both insisted that politics was to have no role in this sporting fixture, the reality proved more complex. Inventively going off on revealing, humorous, moving diversions – and featuring interviews with players from the game like Gary Lineker, John Barnes and Jorge Valdano – The Match is joyous and poignant. It makes clear the immense impact and complexity of ‘the beautiful game’ and is essential viewing amid 2026 FIFA World Cup fever.