Maradona returns to the spotlight through a documentary on Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival screened the documentary "The Match," which revisits one of the most famous encounters in football history: the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England in Mexico, a match in which the legendary Diego Maradona scored two goals that have become iconic in the annals of world football. Directed by Argentinians Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco, the documentary was shown out of competition and explores the details of the historic match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Argentina. The game remains one of the most exciting and controversial in World Cup history. The film combines rare archival footage with testimonies from several players who participated in the match, including England's Gary Lineker, who scored his country's only goal. The filmmakers chose a 91-minute runtime, symbolically representing the match's duration, while also highlighting the sporting, human, and political aspects surrounding the encounter, particularly given its timing just a few years after the Falklands War between Argentina and Britain. The documentary covers Maradona's infamous first goal, scored with his hand in a moment that sparked global controversy and was later dubbed the "Hand of God," as well as his second goal, in which he dribbled past several England players in an extraordinary fashion, later immortalized as the "Goal of the Century." The film also reveals some behind-the-scenes details of the match, including the Argentine team's decision to change their jerseys before the game due to the high temperatures—a hasty measure taken within the Argentine camp. The filmmakers confirmed that convincing the players to participate in the documentary was no easy feat, despite everyone's awareness of the match's historical significance. They noted that Lineker was initially hesitant, but agreed after seeing the first scenes. The documentary also features appearances by several Argentine stars from that era, including Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga, who reminisced about the match that paved the way for Argentina's second World Cup title.