Soccer legend Diego Maradona said the same “hand of God” that helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1986 also played a role in Francis’ ascension as the first pontiff from Latin America.
Now based in Dubai, Maradona -- who scored two unforgettable (if questionable) goals in the 1986 match to eliminate England – wrote a letter to Italy’s newspaper Il Messaggero in which he described himself as a “devout Catholic” and gushed over the new pope.
"I am truly very happy and I am certain that my enthusiasm is shared by the whole Argentinian people," he wrote.
"Everybody in Argentina can remember 'the hand of God' in the England match in the 1986 World Cup. Now, in my country, the 'hand of God' has brought us an Argentinian pope."
The Mirror reported that Maradona also tweeted a photo of himself with a similar message: "The hand of God approves of the new pope."
The “hand of God” remark has never been forgotten by English football fans – indeed, when the British tabloid The Sun reported on Francis’ election on its cover, it used the caption “Hand of God.”
Maradona, now 52, is widely considered one of the greatest football (or soccer) players in history, but his life and career were derailed by a long addiction to cocaine. He almost died during a number of episodes that requited hospitalization over the years.
By May 2007, he claimed to be clean and sober.
He also reportedly owes millions of euros in unpaid taxes to Italian authorities and caused controversies over his outspoken support of Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.


![Miss USA 2013: Meet The 51 Contestants Competing In The Beauty Pageant [PHOTOS] Miss USA 2013: Meet The 51 Contestants Competing In The Beauty Pageant [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_multimedia/public/2013/06/13/miss-usa-contestants_14.jpg)


![Stephen Hester Ousted As Royal Bank Of Scotland (RBS) CEO Following Bank's Talks With UK Treasury [VIDEO] Stephen Hester Ousted As Royal Bank Of Scotland (RBS) CEO Following Bank's Talks With UK Treasury [VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/06/12/rtr3dngo.jpg)
![Hong Kong House Prices Shoot Up, Greek House Prices Plummet [MAP] Hong Kong House Prices Shoot Up, Greek House Prices Plummet [MAP]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/06/11/knight-rank-house-prices.png)


![Turkish Riot Police Enter Taksim Square: Riot Police Clash With Protesters In Attempt To Break Up Protests [PHOTOS] Turkish Riot Police Enter Taksim Square: Riot Police Clash With Protesters In Attempt To Break Up Protests [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/06/11/protester-taking-cover.jpg)
![Flooding In Europe: Floods In Germany, Austria, The Czech Republic, Hungary And Slovakia In Pictures [PHOTOS] Flooding In Europe: Floods In Germany, Austria, The Czech Republic, Hungary And Slovakia In Pictures [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/06/11/flooding-europe-billboard.jpg)
![Robin Thicke Credits Justin Timberlake For Success Of Chart Topping Single 'Blurred Lines' [VIDEO] Robin Thicke Credits Justin Timberlake For Success Of Chart Topping Single 'Blurred Lines' [VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_multimedia/public/2011/11/21/193689-singer-robin-thicke-poses-backstage-at-the-2011-american-music-awards-.jpg)






![Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke Press Conference, FOMC Decision: Live Blog [VIDEO] Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke Press Conference, FOMC Decision: Live Blog [VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_small/public/2013/06/19/bernanke-news-conference-19june2013.jpg)



![Apple iOS 7: New Features Dazzle At WWDC 2013, Designed To 'Bring Order To Complexity' [PHOTOS] Apple iOS 7: New Features Dazzle At WWDC 2013, Designed To 'Bring Order To Complexity' [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_small/public/2013/06/10/iphone5-ios-7.jpg)


![Unpaid Intern Lawsuit Against Atlantic Records And Warner Music Group Tests Legality Of Music Industry Internships [EXCLUSIVE] Unpaid Intern Lawsuit Against Atlantic Records And Warner Music Group Tests Legality Of Music Industry Internships [EXCLUSIVE]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_small/public/2013/06/17/wmg.jpg)



Like or Follow us for updates on the biggest stories!