Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball sells for US$3.35mil at auction

At a recent auction, Diego Maradona's infamous ball from his "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup fetched US$3.35 million, according to heritage auction records. The Adidas Azteca ball, central to both of Maradona's legendary goals in that match, was sold by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. Experts authenticated the ball through photographs taken during the 1986 quarterfinal victory, where Maradona netted two memorable goals.

The final sale price fell significantly short of the pre-auction estimate of at least US$10 million. Before the auction, Heritage Auctions deemed the ball "arguably the most famous ball in any sport" and a potential record holder for the most valuable football item ever sold. The goal, allowed by officials despite using his left hand, sparked controversy and cemented Maradona's legendary status.

It was subsequently kept for 36 years by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the match. The ball's previous auction sale in 2022 netted £2 million (US$2.37 million). The shirt Maradona donned in the same match fetched nearly US$9.3 million at Sotheby's later that year. This latest sale also missed the record for the highest-priced ball in any sport.

Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball from his stellar 2024 MLB season achieved US$4.392 million at auction, including buyer's premium. The current record holder for the most expensive sports memorabilia is the New York Yankees jersey Babe Ruth wore in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, which Heritage Auctions sold for US$24.12 million in 2024.