Argentina’s Central Bank (BCRA) has released a new silver coin to mark the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring an engraving that traces Diego Maradona’s legendary goal against England in the 1986 quarter-final in Mexico — a strike widely regarded as the greatest in World Cup history.
In a statement on Tuesday, the bank said: “The BCRA has issued a commemorative silver coin dedicated to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whose main design depicts the outline of the legendary play that led to Argentina’s second goal against England in Mexico 1986, considered the best in World Cup history.”
The launch coincides with next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, which will mark 40 years since that iconic moment.
The coin forms part of the International Programme of Commemorative Coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, continuing Argentina’s participation in similar initiatives from previous tournaments.
According to the Central Bank, the front of the coin features a football crossing the centre, symbolising Argentina’s deep-rooted passion for the sport. The top edge bears the inscription ‘Republica Argentina’, while the lower rim reads ‘Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026’.
The reverse side depicts a schematic of Maradona’s run from his own half — dribbling past four England players and goalkeeper Peter Shilton — before scoring what became one of football’s most celebrated goals.
That strike put Argentina 2–0 up in the quarter-final, following Maradona’s controversial ‘Hand of God‘ goal earlier in the match, before Gary Lineker pulled one back for England to make it 2–1.
Argentina went on to beat Belgium in the semi-finals and West Germany in the final, lifting their second World Cup title after their triumph as hosts in 1978.
The Central Bank said the coin is made of .925 sterling silver, weighs 27 grams, and measures 40 millimetres in diameter. Only 2,500 pieces have been minted for the domestic market, while gold versions with a similar design will be sold internationally. Each coin carries a symbolic face value of 10 Argentine pesos.
The design was created by the Strategic Treasury Planning Department of the BCRA and minted by the Royal Spanish Mint ‘Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre’.