or many football supporters, Mexico ‘86 was more than just a World Cup. It was the tournament that sparked a lifelong love of the game. The iconic Panini stickers, unforgettable kits, Diego Maradona at his absolute peak and a cast of characters whose stories stretched far beyond the football pitch all combined to create something timeless.
Richard Mulligan has spent years uncovering those stories. His book, Heroes of Mexico ‘86, goes beyond the famous names, profiling every player featured in the original Panini sticker album and revealing what became of them after the final whistle. Some became managers or television personalities, others returned to ordinary lives, while a few experienced remarkable highs and devastating lows.
We caught up with Richard to talk about favourite stickers, forgotten footballers, writing the book, and whether anyone will ever eclipse Maradona’s unforgettable summer in Mexico.
What was your favourite sticker in the album?
The three that stick out are Brazil’s Edson, as he appears to be stood next to a decapitated teammate, the serious-looking Aleksandr Chivadze, who has been superimposed into a USSR shirt, and the terrifyingly bearded Peter Disztl of Hungary.
I’ll go for Edson. He looks like a Miami Vice extra and started the tournament at right-back before being replaced by the incredible Josimar. As I explain in the book, despite Josimar’s brilliance, Edson wasn’t happy. He headed to a bar where he told anyone who would listen exactly what he thought of the manager. He never played for Brazil again.
It’s a fabulous sticker, full of the bright colours of Brazil, and it tells a story I knew nothing about before researching the book.
In terms of the player profiles, Gaetano Scirea stands out because of his tragic death at such a young age. I also knew nothing about Julio Alberto of Spain, who was abandoned by his parents as a child, enjoyed a brilliant playing career, then battled drug addiction and serious health problems before turning his life around.
The book contains 384 player profiles. Some became elite coaches or television presenters. Others went to prison, faced enormous personal struggles, or simply became plumbers and postmen. Every story is different.
Did you ever complete the original Panini sticker album?
No, unfortunately I finished four stickers short.
I was missing the great Soviet goalkeeper Rinat Dasayev, the France team sticker, Danish forward Kenneth Brylle, who didn’t even make the final squad, and the Canadian sticker featuring Randy Samuel and Bruce Wilson.
I actually interviewed Bruce Wilson a few years ago and told him he was one of the stickers I never managed to get. He was very open during the interview, although not especially interested in helping me complete my album.
How long did the book take to write?
The idea probably goes back around 15 years.
I originally created the Mexico86HQ social media account to celebrate players from the tournament, usually marking birthdays with a profile. Eventually it occurred to me that all those stories deserved to be brought together in one place.
When it was announced that Mexico would co-host the 2026 World Cup, it felt like the perfect opportunity. Forty years after the original tournament, with the World Cup returning to the Azteca, the timing seemed right.
I spoke to Panini and several publishers, but nothing came of those conversations.
Then one Friday afternoon in October 2025, I started experimenting with how the pages might look. From that moment it became my main focus until I delivered the completed manuscript to the publisher in late April.
I loved every minute of writing it and I’ve loved promoting it. I’m incredibly proud of the finished book, and seeing copies being shipped all over the world has been very special.
What was it like immersing yourself in Mexico ‘86 again?
Running Mexico86HQ means I’ve never really left the tournament behind, but writing the book took that to another level.
I was constantly rewatching matches, often with games playing in the background while I wrote. I also spent countless hours reading old newspapers and speaking to football supporters and experts from many of the countries involved.
What struck me most was how different football and the world were in 1986.
Many Eastern European players weren’t allowed to move abroad, or were forced to change clubs. Hungary’s Sándor Sallai was close to joining a Spanish club before being detained over match-fixing allegations.
There were also players who found themselves dropped by their national teams simply because they moved overseas. South Korea’s Cha Bum-kun is a perfect example, spending years out of the international side after joining the Bundesliga. Similar stories appeared throughout South America.
I also loved discovering transfer rumours from the time. Maxime Bossis was linked with Tottenham, Peter Disztl reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, and it seemed almost everyone was being linked with Serie A during its golden era.
Is Diego Maradona still the greatest player of all time?
His influence on the 1986 World Cup has never been matched.
No player has dominated a World Cup the way Maradona did. He scored four unforgettable goals, produced countless magical moments and even provided the decisive pass for the winning goal in the final.
Anyone fortunate enough to watch that tournament witnessed something extraordinary.
Whether he remains the greatest player ever is a more difficult question.
Longevity has to count for something, and Lionel Messi has enjoyed two decades at the very highest level while also winning the World Cup.
It’s very difficult to look beyond Messi now.
Where can readers buy the book?
Heroes of Mexico ‘86 is available through Amazon directly.
Could Italia ‘90 be next?
The response to the book has been incredible and I’ve lost count of how many people have asked for an Italia ‘90 edition.
This has been such a rewarding project that I’m sure one day I’ll sit down and start another one.
Italia ‘90 is another World Cup that’s very close to my heart.
Conclusion
Football books often focus on the stars, but Heroes of Mexico ‘86 reminds us that every player at a World Cup has a story worth telling. Richard Mulligan has combined meticulous research with genuine affection for one of football’s most cherished tournaments, producing a book that will appeal as much to collectors and historians as it will to supporters who simply remember swapping stickers in the school playground.
Forty years on, Mexico ‘86 continues to capture imaginations. Thanks to Richard’s work, the players behind those iconic Panini stickers have finally been given the stories they deserve.
Grab yourself a copy, it’s well worth a read.
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