Argentina 1986: A Tribute to the Heroic Albiceleste Title

Mexico, Mexico 86. "The world united by a ball". That was the main refrain of the official song of that World Cup. Argentina was also united, but for a dream that it achieved. It is that eternal dream that still persists to this day.

Thirty years have passed since the feat of a team full of warriors. That Albiceleste, which at times became a captivating blue due to its bright colors, was led by a little man who game after game demonstrated skills typical of an alien being: Diego Armando Maradona.

Without Maradona and his gaucho army behind him, it would have been impossible to create the feat of June 29, 1986. For a brief moment, the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" were far away. Those beautiful works of art needed a glorious consecration on the podium to instantly associate them. That consecration came against an unforgettable, green Germany. The Federal Germany still divided by a wall.

The Azteca Stadium was the perfect stage for these teams to present their script and star in an epic match. A match to be kept in memory and in the replays that we can now find on YouTube.

Argentina struck first. It was with Jose Luis Brown's header. Harald Schumacher, the German goalkeeper, went out to "catch butterflies." The Argentine defender celebrated on his knees as if he were praying to the Almighty so that a longing could come true. And he accompanied it with a kiss full of emotion and wishes.

To release the stifled screams in the soul, Jorge Valdano achieved the 2-0 with a subtle finish to the far post. Done. Let's go celebrate. We are champions, gentlemen. This is how the Argentine fans felt in the stands of the Mexican venue.

Never count out a German. They will always fight until the last breath. That's how they fought to recover from World War II. And what they were disputing on that Azteca field was just another war for them. Karl Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Völler leveled the actions in the blink of an eye.

The beautiful sunset showed a lovely sky. Well, that weather turned into a dark desperation for Salvador Bilardo's men. However, a nice phrase fell perfectly for Argentina: "after the storm, comes the calm." The sky-blue and white calm came in person. It arrived in Jorge Burruchaga's buffalo run in the last gasps of the match.

We already know the rest. Diego Maradona raising the World Cup trophy with a smile of a child with the dreamed toy. Jorge Burruchaga being carried on shoulders as if he were a terrestrial god. A story taken from a book of epics.

Now, with years on their backs, but with fresh memories, the members of that team gathered in the Hall of Lost Steps of the National Congress of Argentina to receive a tribute. Only Diego Maradona was missing. Well, his absence is forgiven. In reality, everything is forgiven for him.

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