Maradona 'Hand of God' football sells for $3.35m
The football with which Diego Maradona scored his 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for $3.35m (€2.9m).
Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" football has been sold at auction for $3.35 million (€2.9 million). The Heritage Auctions in the United States achieved the sale price, which was about $6.7 million (€5.7 million) below the estimated $10 million (€8.6 million). The Dallas-based auction house had initially set a $2.5 million (€2.1 million) starting price for the Adidas Azteca ball.
Maradona scored twice during Argentina's quarter-final victory over England on June 22, 1986, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. He controversially scored the first goal, punching it past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, before scoring an exceptional individual effort, which was later voted the 'Goal of the Century'. The late Argentine football legend claimed the contentious first goal was partially scored with the head and partially with the hand of God.
The ball's previous owner, Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, kept it for over three decades before selling it in 2022 for $2.37 million (€2 million). The ball was put up for auction again in 2023 but did not meet the reserve price. Maradona's shirt from the match, which belonged to England midfielder Steve Hodge, sold for a record-breaking £7.1 million (€6 million) at auction in May 2022.
After defeating England, Argentina went on to become world champions for the second time, defeating West Germany 3-2 in the final.
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