Hank Willis Thomas’ wall-mounted sculpture Hand of God explores the intersection of art, sports, and geopolitics by reinterpreting Diego Maradona’s infamous 1986 World Cup goal, known as “The Hand of God.” This controversial event, which occurred on 22 June during the quarterfinal match between Argentina and England, involved Maradona’s illegal handball, which was overlooked by the referee and ultimately contributed to Argentina’s victory in the tournament. First exhibited in The Beautiful Game (2017) at Ben Brown Fine Arts, Thomas’s sculpture engages with the fervent culture surrounding football while addressing its deeper connections to nationalism and colonialism. The piece reflects on football as a socially accepted form of division, uniting and energising fans globally while simultaneously highlighting its role in perpetuating tribalistic identities. The use of an iridescent chrome finish in Hand of God underscores the lucrative nature of the sport, which relies heavily on the labour and skill of international players, many of whom are from the African diaspora. This finish not only emphasises the commercial aspects of football but also captures the sheen and spectacle associated with high-profile sporting events, symbolising the multifaceted impact of Maradona's goal on global football culture. The reflective surface invites viewers to confront their own perceptions and biases, as well as the media’s role in amplifying and mythologising such moments. Thomas critiques how media coverage can transform controversial actions into iconic symbols, often overshadowing the underlying issues of fairness and ethics. Through Hand of God, Thomas explores the notions of memory and mythmaking in sports, elevating Maradona’s goal to a symbolic object that engages with how historical sports moments are constructed and maintained within cultural consciousness.