In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca represent two conflicting yet complementary parts of a whole—like yin and yang. Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl is the god of light and order, and his brother Tezcatlipoca is the smoking mirror, symbolizing night and chaos.Forty years ago, in the vast Aztec Stadium (named in honor of Mexico’s ancestral heritage), this powerful myth and transformative cosmic duality found its sacred expression. An equally mythical player erupted with such power and madness that the shock of it is still felt across the football world.Harry Kane and Co. as England return to the Aztec stage – more than two kilometers above sea level – to take on co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 of this World Cup will bear the burden of challenging circumstances like the ghost of Diego Maradona.In Mexico 1986, after struggling in the group stage, England defeated Paraguay 3-0 at the Aztec Stadium and seemed to have adapted to its own rhythm. Lineker scored twice, laying the foundation for a fierce confrontation with Argentina. Yet little did Bobby Robson’s team realize that the paradox of Maradona’s art would consume them so cruelly yet so beautifully.If his “Hand of God” first goal might have been the result of Tezcatlipoca-born power, his second goal – now revered as the “goal of the century” – came out of nowhere, full of mystery and entertainment, full of light and order, his stunning run past six England players injecting the game’s dreamy spectacle with the delightful emotion and ebullient imagery of an unpredictable genius.Argentina’s conflict with the United Kingdom stems primarily from the Falklands War, a 10-week conflict between the two countries in 1982 on a South Atlantic territory about 300 miles off the coast of Argentina.As if locked in a personal war, Maradona took up arms – his left hand and left foot, to be precise – and weaved chaos and magic to single-handedly defeat England 2-1 and lead Argentina to their second World Cup title in 1986.His first goal came in the 51st minute. As he attempted a one-two with Jorge Valdano on the edge of the box, the Argentina striker was unable to properly control the ball in the face of a challenge from England midfielder Steve Hodge, and the ball looped in the air. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton tried to break through the danger, but the five-foot-five Maradona quickly seized the opportunity, his small frame initially meant to head the ball, but instead he punched and the ball bounced into the empty net.Neither Tunisian referee Ali Ben Nasser nor Bulgarian linesman Bogdan Dochev suspected anything, and Maradona ran over to celebrate in front of his father in the stands.“A little bit of Maradona’s taxi, a little bit of Dios’ man (‘a little bit of Maradona’s head, a little bit of God’s hand),” Maradona later said of the goal.But when he called again four minutes later, a mesmerizing 10 seconds of brilliance unfolded on the Aztec’s sacred turf, which Valdano later described as “Diego’s personal journey.”First a double drag to avoid Peter Beardsley, then Reid. What followed was his typical change of pace before effortlessly passing Terry Butcher and Fenwick before finishing the move around Hilton.And so the Maradona legend was born – in the most unrelenting, intoxicating way possible.Current England manager Thomas Tuchel was 12 years old at the time and was watching the game at home in Germany. “One dribble and one… Yeah, that would never hold up today,” he would point out now.Can the Germans become England’s Ghostbusters? Tuchel believes fortune will be on England’s side forty years from now. “We’ll get it back. It’s karma. Karma will come back for us,” he said before the game against Mexico.Such high expectations also bring another challenge: altitude. Many believe that Bob Beamon’s legendary long jump world record of 8.90 meters set at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City was largely due to the city’s high altitude. Maradona will not be in attendance, but the pressure was and is weighing heavily on Tuchel’s side as they seek to scale dizzying heights.
