{
  "id": 2965898,
  "title": "Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/maradonas-hand-of-god-ball-sells-for-2-5m",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T06:55:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqxvj8j7gy8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Diego Maradona's infamous \"Hand of God\" ball, which he used to score a goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, has been sold at auction for £2.5 million. The ball, a key piece of football history, is believed to have been struck with both Maradona's head and hand, as he later recalled to reporters. Maradona also scored what is popularly known as the \"goal of the century\" during the same match, outwitting five England players before netting the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Despite receiving a bid of $3.3 million (£2.5 million) at Heritage Auctions in the United States, the ball's seller had anticipated a higher sale price, around $10 million (£7.3 million). Mike Provenzale, a specialist auctioneer at Heritage, described the ball as \"a true one-of-one item. Arguably the most significant soccer item that exists.\" Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the 1986 game, kept the Adidas Azteca ball for over three decades before selling it in 2022 for $2.37 million (£1.74 million). The shirt Maradona wore during the match fetched £7.1 million at auction in 2022.",
  "summary": "The ball used by Diego Maradona to score his famous \"Hand of God\" goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England has been sold at auction. The Adidas Azteca ball was used during Argentina's 2-1 victory over England, in which Maradona scored two memorable goals.\n\nAccording to Heritage Auctions, the ball sold for $3.35 million, which is approximately £2.5 million. The final price was below the pre-auction estimate of at least $10 million. The ball was matched to photographs taken during the match and was kept for 36 years by Tunisian referee Ali Bin N.\n\nMaradona's first goal against England became known as the \"Hand of God\" after he used his left hand to send the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton, with officials allowing the goal to stand. Four minutes later, he scored a second goal, later voted as the Fifa World Cup Goal of the Century, after dribbling past five England players.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball sells for US$3.35mil at auction",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/maradonas-hand-of-god-ball-sells-for-us-3-35mil-at-auction",
        "published": "2026-08-24T00:37:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball from Mexico sells for $3.35m",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/maradonas-hand-of-god-ball-from-mexico-sells-for-3-35m",
        "published": "2026-08-24T04:19:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/maradonas-hand-of-god-ball-sells-for-2-5m-2967613",
        "published": "2026-08-24T06:55:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/maradonas-hand-of-god-ball-sells-for-2-5m-2967804",
        "published": "2026-08-24T06:55:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}