In the 1986 World Cup match against England, Maradona scored both the 'Hand of God' and the 'Goal of the Century' within five minutes. If you had to erase one from football history, which would you choose and why?

This is a "trolley problem" with intense emotional conflict, striking at the very soul of football. The "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" – one is the most controversial devilish moment in football history, the other the most divinely gifted masterpiece. Together, they constitute the complex and complete duality of Maradona's godlike and demonic nature.

If one must be erased from football history, I would make a difficult but clear choice:

Erase the "Hand of God".

My reasons are as follows, concerning football's purity, the legend of Maradona, and historical justice:

1. Protecting the Soul and Fairness of Football

The foundation of football's status as the world's number one sport lies in fair competition under established rules. No matter how brilliant the skill or extraordinary the talent, it must ultimately operate within an agreed-upon framework.

The "Hand of God" trampled the rules: It was a deliberate, deceptive handball. It directly violated football's most fundamental rule. Preserving it is equivalent to enshrining "deception" for permanent worship within football's sacred temple. This sends a dangerous message to future generations: on the path to victory, rules can be broken, as long as you are great enough.
Erasing it upholds the purity of sportsmanship: Erasing the "Hand of God" is like setting the record straight historically. It declares to the world: even a god like Maradona cannot stand above the rules. Footballing victory should ultimately stem from feet, not arms; from talent and effort, not trickery. This protects the sport's core values.

2. Allowing the "Goal of the Century" to Shine with Pure Brilliance

The existence of the "Hand of God" forever casts a shadow over the brilliance of the "Goal of the Century". When praising the latter's unparalleled nature, people inevitably recall the former's disgrace. These two goals are bound together, ensuring Maradona's image remains forever that of an "angel-devil hybrid".

Without the "Hand of God" as interference, Maradona's deification would be indisputable: Imagine the scene: a 0-0 deadlock, no prior controversy, Maradona directly produces the "Goal of the Century" by dribbling past five players (including the goalkeeper). This goal would no longer be "making amends", no longer "redeeming the earlier deception", but a pure, earth-shattering, heroic masterpiece decided single-handedly.
Elevating the legend: Erasing the "Hand of God" would transform Maradona's image from a "cunning king" to a "pure genius". His greatness would no longer require complex explanations, no longer need to balance his divine and demonic sides. Fans worldwide, especially English fans, could more easily set aside hatred and purely admire and worship that unparalleled footballing talent. His legend would thus become cleaner, more radiant.

3. Historical Justice and Reconciliation

Between Argentina and England lies the historical grievance of the Falklands War. The backdrop to that match extended far beyond football. The "Hand of God" is seen by many Argentines as a form of "revenge" against Britain, a symbol of the "weak outwitting the strong with cunning". But this "revenge" is unhealthy, built upon the violation of sporting rules.

Erasing the controversy, returning victory to football itself: If the victory in that match came solely from the impeccable "Goal of the Century", the historical narrative would be entirely different. It would be a story of "footballing talent conquering all", not a story of "national enmity intertwined with on-field trickery". This victory would be far more convincing and compelling.
Promoting genuine reconciliation: The "Hand of God" is a perpetual source of pain and resentment for English fans. Erasing it removes this thorn. While history cannot be rewritten, in our thought experiment, this would significantly promote reconciliation between the fans of both nations. They could jointly praise that great "Goal of the Century", rather than attacking each other in endless arguments.

Conclusion:

By erasing the "Hand of God", we lose a highly controversial, dramatically charged historical moment, a key label defining Maradona's complexity.

But we gain far more:

A purer football world where rules are respected.
A "Goal of the Century" that shines with undimmed, flawless brilliance.
A more perfect image of Maradona, closer to a "Football God".
A football history more likely to lead towards reconciliation and mutual respect.

The "Goal of the Century" is proof of Maradona's talent, his "divine" side; the "Hand of God" is a manifestation of his character, his "human" side. To ensure the divine light of football shines forever, I am willing to sacrifice that controversial moment of human fallibility. Because true greatness should ultimately triumph over all trickery.