World Football: 5 Most Infamous Handballs of All Time

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The handball is the one rule everyone knows about in football. The game is played with one's feet, the only exception being the goalkeeper.

In the era of technology, every play is scrutinized, and if a handball does occur and is allowed, it is a controversial moment for every spectator.

Some fans feel blessed that their team could get the goal and other cheated, but some handballs are more meaningful then others.

Here are five of the most famous handballs of all time.

Honorable Mention: Paul Scholes Handball Volleyshot

Paul Scholes is a legend at Manchester United. He was known for his playmaking abilities at times but even more for his gut and his heart that he played the game with.

Scholes took chances with his tackles going in hard and defending players so that they knew he was around.

Scholes certainly took a chance with this moment as he made a volleyball shot that went into the back of the net.

Raul Gonzalez: Real Madrid vs Leeds United

Long time Real Madrid captain and legend at the Bernabeau, Raul in 2001 guided the ball in the back of the net against Leeds United.

For such a prolific goal scorer, the ball just finds a way to get itself into the back of the net and sometime luck plays a factor.

In the Champions League, if a win happens, no player will examine if it was right or wrong to get a goal in a certain way. Raul scored a goal and advanced Real Madrid in a fashion that will be talked about for a long time.

Luis Suarez: Uruguay vs Ghana

Luis Suarez had one of the most controversial moments of the 2010 World Cup as he used his hands to keep Ghana from scoring and potentially knocking Uruguay out of the tournament.

The play was a professional one. He made a split second decision that saved Uruguay.

He exchanged himself for disallowing a goal.

The penalty was given, Asamoah Gyan missed and Uruguay’s hopes were still alive.

Thierry Henry: France vs Ireland

Thierry Henry’s handball versus Ireland caused so much hysteria and controversy due to its meaning. The handball goal kept Ireland from reaching the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and caused the Irish nation to go up in a frenzy.

It is even more disappointing that it was France that made it and put on one of the most abysmal displays in World Cup history, and the passionate Irishmen were left at home drinking Guiness and cursing Les Bleus.

Lionel Messi: Barcelona vs Espanyol

Lionel Messi’s handball versus Espanyol may not make many peoples' heads turn due to it not being on the world stage and instead league play.

The goal was pivotal for Barcelona staying in the title race in that season, but even more important was the addition to Lionel Messi’s myth.

Its shocking similarities to Messi’s fellow countrymen Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal was a sign for many that Messi was going to be Argentine’s next magician.

"Hand of God" Diego Maradona

In the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Argentina played England in the quarterfinals of the tournament.  In this game. there was a split second that changed the soccer world forever.

The “Hand of God” goal by Diego Maradona is one of the most infamous handballs of all time.

Not only was it controversial, it added to Maradona’s love me, hate me persona. It added fuel for those that opposed him, but to his adorers, it was a second of magic (even if it was a handball).