Argentina dominated the early stages, taking a 2–0 lead, but a legendary German comeback late in the second half nearly forced extra time before a dramatic winner from Jorge Burruchaga sealed the victory. Player (Team) Description José Luis Brown (ARG)
: Argentine defender José Luis Brown famously played through a dislocated shoulder, improvising a sling by biting a hole in his jersey to keep his arm stable. Argentina 3 x 2 Germany в—Џ 1986 World Cup Final ...
: West Germany's Lothar Matthäus was tasked with man-marking Diego Maradona throughout the match. While the "Golden Boy" was quieter than usual, he still provided the decisive assist for the winning goal in the 84th minute. Argentina dominated the early stages, taking a 2–0
: Argentina utilized a 3-5-2 formation , which allowed wing-backs to push forward while maintaining a compact defense tailored to unleash Maradona’s creativity. While the "Golden Boy" was quieter than usual,
This victory cemented Maradona's legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. For West Germany, it was their second consecutive final defeat (after 1982), though they would eventually get their revenge by defeating Argentina 1–0 in the 1990 World Cup Final .