Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ football sells for US$3.35 million at US auction
The football with which Diego Maradona scored his “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for US$3.35 million. The sale price achieved by Heritage Auctions in the United States was around US$6.7 million below the US$10 million estimate. The Dallas-based auction house had placed a US$2.5 million starting price on the Adidas Azteca ball. Maradona scored twice in…
Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" football fetched a price of $3.35 million at an auction held in the United States. The Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas, had originally estimated the value of the Adidas Azteca ball to be around $10 million. The starting price set by the auction house was a relatively modest $2.5 million.
Maradona made history by scoring twice in Argentina's quarter-final victory over England on June 22, 1986, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. He controversially punched the initial goal beyond England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, later being voted "Goal of the Century". Maradona claimed that his contentious first goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God".
After the match, Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser collected the ball and kept it for over three decades before selling it for $2.37 million in 2022. The ball was put up for auction again in 2023, but unfortunately, it did not meet the reserve price. Following their victory over England, Argentina went on to claim the World Cup title for the second time, defeating West Germany 3-2 in the final.
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