Argentina 3–1 South Korea
Valdano scored twice and Ruggeri once as Argentina opened the tournament with a physical victory shaped by Maradona's creativity.
Historic squad guide · Champion
Argentina 1986 World Cup Squad
Argentina's 1986 World Cup squad went unbeaten in Mexico and won the country's second title after defeating West Germany 3–2 in the final. Carlos Bilardo built a compact, adaptable team around captain Diego Maradona, but the campaign also depended on disciplined defending, aggressive midfield work and decisive goals from Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga.
Tournament resultChampion
FinalArgentina 3–2 West Germany
Tournament record6 wins · 1 draw
Goals scored14
Goals conceded5
CaptainDiego Maradona
Top Argentina scorerMaradona · 5
Head coachCarlos Bilardo
Archive rating78
How the Argentina 1986 team played
Bilardo's team is commonly described as a 3-5-2, although its shape changed with the phase of play. José Luis Brown organized the central defence with Oscar Ruggeri and José Luis Cuciuffo, Sergio Batista protected the space ahead of them, and Julio Olarticoechea and Ricardo Giusti covered wide areas. Héctor Enrique and Burruchaga supported transitions while Maradona received freedom behind Valdano. The structure reduced Maradona's defensive burden without leaving the rest of the side passive.
Key players
Maradona scored five goals, won the Golden Ball and produced the tournament's defining quarterfinal performance against England before creating Burruchaga's winning goal in the final. Valdano scored four times, including Argentina's second goal against West Germany. Brown opened the scoring in the final, Pumpido started every match in goal, and Batista, Enrique, Giusti, Olarticoechea, Ruggeri and Cuciuffo provided the balance that allowed Argentina's attacking leaders to decide matches.
Legacy of the squad
The squad became inseparable from Maradona's individual tournament, but its lasting value also comes from the way Bilardo shaped complementary roles around one exceptional creator. Argentina won six matches and drew one, scored 14 goals and navigated contrasting opponents from the group stage through the final. The 1986 champions remain a reference point for teams built around a free attacking leader without abandoning collective defensive responsibility.
Every match from the tournament run
Argentina 1986 World Cup results
Argentina 1–1 Italy
Maradona equalized after Italy took the lead from the penalty spot, preserving Argentina's unbeaten start against the defending champions.
Argentina 2–0 Bulgaria
Valdano and Burruchaga scored as Argentina won Group A and entered the knockout rounds without defeat.
Argentina 1–0 Uruguay
Pedro Pasculli scored the only goal in a tense South American knockout match.
Argentina 2–1 England
Maradona scored both Argentina goals, including the disputed first and the celebrated solo second, before Gary Lineker reduced the deficit.
Argentina 2–0 Belgium
Maradona scored twice in the second half as Argentina controlled the semifinal and advanced to the title match.
Argentina 3–2 West Germany
Brown and Valdano gave Argentina a two-goal lead. After West Germany equalized, Maradona released Burruchaga for the decisive 84th-minute winner.
Verified lineup from the final
Argentina 1986 World Cup final starting XI
Argentina's starting XI in the 1986 final used Nery Pumpido in goal; José Luis Cuciuffo, José Luis Brown and Oscar Ruggeri across the central defensive line; Ricardo Giusti, Sergio Batista, Héctor Enrique and Julio Olarticoechea through midfield and the wide channels; and Jorge Burruchaga, Diego Maradona and Jorge Valdano in the attacking structure. Maradona operated with the greatest freedom, while Valdano stretched the defence and Burruchaga linked midfield runs with the front line.
- 1Nery Pumpido
- 2José Luis Cuciuffo
- 3José Luis Brown
- 4Oscar Ruggeri
- 5Ricardo Giusti
- 6Sergio Batista
- 7Héctor Enrique
- 8Julio Olarticoechea
- 9Jorge Burruchaga
- 10Diego Maradona
- 11Jorge Valdano
Roles behind the tournament run
Key Argentina 1986 player contributions
Diego Maradona
Scored five goals, won the Golden Ball and supplied the decisive pass for Burruchaga in the final after dominating the quarterfinal and semifinal.
Jorge Valdano
Scored four tournament goals, stretched defensive lines and finished Argentina's second goal in the final.
Jorge Burruchaga
Connected midfield with attack, scored in the group stage and delivered the title-winning goal against West Germany.
José Luis Brown
Organized the back line and scored the opening goal of the final with a first-half header.
Sergio Batista
Protected the central defence, recovered possession and gave the more attacking midfielders a stable platform.
Nery Pumpido
Started all seven matches and kept clean sheets against Bulgaria, Uruguay and Belgium during the unbeaten campaign.
Suggested XI generated from archive order
7a0 suggested Argentina 1986 lineup
This playable selection is separate from the verified historical final starting XI shown above.
22 players
Complete Argentina 1986 squad by position
Goalkeepers
- #15IslasGK70
- #18PumpidoGK81
- #22ZeladaGK68
Defenders
- #5BrownCB80
- #6PassarellaCB82
- #8ClausenRB / RM75
- #9CuciuffoCB / RB76
- #13GarréLB / LM75
- #16OlarticoecheaLB / LM78
- #19RuggeriCB83
Midfielders
- #2BatistaDM82
- #3BochiniAM / LM75
- #4BorghiDM / CM / AM / RM74
- #7BurruchagaAM / RM / RW85
- #10MaradonaAM / LW / ST99
- #12EnriqueDM / CM / RM76
- #14GiustiDM / CM / RM80
- #20TapiaCM / LM / AM72
- #21TrobbianiDM / CM / AM / RM71
Forwards
- #1AlmirónST / RW70
- #11ValdanoST / LW85
- #17PasculliST / RW76
Legend markers in 7a0
Featured legends
Maradona
Argentina 1986 FAQ
Who started for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final?
Argentina's starting XI in the 1986 final was Nery Pumpido; José Luis Cuciuffo, José Luis Brown, and Oscar Ruggeri; Ricardo Giusti, Sergio Batista, Héctor Enrique, and Julio Olarticoechea; Jorge Burruchaga, Diego Maradona, and Jorge Valdano. They defeated West Germany 3–2 at the Estadio Azteca.
How many goals and assists did Diego Maradona have in 1986?
Diego Maradona recorded five goals and five assists in seven matches during the 1986 World Cup. He was directly involved in 10 of Argentina's 14 tournament goals, earning the tournament Golden Ball.
What was the 'Goal of the Century' in 1986?
The 'Goal of the Century' was Maradona's second goal against England in the quarterfinal, where he dribbled past five English players and goalkeeper Peter Shilton over a 60-meter sprint. It came just four minutes after his controversial 'Hand of God' opening goal.
Who scored the winning goal in the 1986 World Cup final?
Jorge Burruchaga scored the winning goal in the 84th minute after West Germany had rallied from 2–0 down to equalize 2–2. Maradona delivered a perfectly timed through ball that sent Burruchaga clear to slot past Harald Schumacher.
What tactical formation did Carlos Bilardo use in 1986?
Carlos Bilardo pioneered a 3-5-1-1 / 3-5-2 system featuring a sweeper (Brown), two man-marking stoppers (Cuciuffo and Ruggeri), and five hardworking midfielders. This tactical innovation gave Maradona complete positional freedom behind Valdano.
Did Argentina go undefeated during the 1986 World Cup?
Yes, Argentina finished the tournament unbeaten with six wins and one draw. Their only draw came against defending champions Italy (1–1) during the group stage.
Who were Argentina's primary goalscorers besides Maradona?
Jorge Valdano scored four goals, while Jorge Burruchaga scored two goals, including the tournament winner. Defender José Luis Brown and Oscar Ruggeri also contributed crucial goals during the campaign.
Who was Argentina's captain and coach in 1986?
Diego Maradona was team captain, having been handed the armband ahead of Daniel Passarella by head coach Carlos Bilardo. Bilardo's meticulous tactical preparation and man-marking schemes proved decisive.
What ratings does Maradona have in the 7a0 game archive?
Diego Maradona boasts a maximum 98 force rating in the 7a0 game, representing the highest individual player rating in the entire historic database. He is eligible as an attacking midfielder (AM) and second striker (SS).
How can I simulate the 1986 Argentina squad in 7a0?
Select the 1986 World Cup edition in 7a0 to draft Maradona, Valdano, and Burruchaga into your lineup. You can experiment with Bilardo's 3-5-2 system and see how the team performs in the knockout simulator.
Sources and editorial review
Editorial review: 7a0.online
Last reviewed: 2026-07-26
Historical results and lineups are checked against the cited records. Player ratings, position eligibility and suggested lineups are independent 7a0 editorial values.