Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball sells for £2.5 million

DALLAS: A football that became part of World Cup history when Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England has been sold for £2.5 million ($3.3 million) at auction in the United States.

The Adidas Azteca match ball was auctioned by Heritage Auctions and had been preserved for decades by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the dramatic 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City.

The sale attracted worldwide attention because the ball was used during one of the most controversial and unforgettable matches in football history. Argentina defeated England 2-1, with Maradona scoring both goals.

His opening goal remains one of football’s most debated moments. Maradona challenged England goalkeeper Peter Shilton for the ball and appeared to use his hand to direct it into the net. The officials allowed the goal to stand, and Maradona later famously referred to it as being scored partly by the “Hand of God.”

Just minutes later, the Argentine superstar produced an entirely different kind of magic. He collected the ball inside his own half, weaved past five England players and finished beyond Shilton. The goal was later voted the “Goal of the Century” in a FIFA poll.

Despite the extraordinary history attached to the ball, its final price fell well below expectations. Reports said the item had been expected to fetch around $10 million, but it ultimately sold for $3.3 million.

The latest sale also adds another chapter to the ball’s remarkable journey. It had previously been sold in 2022 for about $2.37 million, again after being offered by Bin Nasser.

Bin Nasser had kept the match ball after the famous encounter and previously described it as a piece of football history. The referee later explained that he could not clearly see the handball and relied on his assistant referee before allowing the goal to stand.

The auction highlights the extraordinary value of Maradona memorabilia. His shirt from the same England-Argentina match sold for about $9.3 million in 2022, setting a record for a football shirt at the time.

More than four decades after that unforgettable afternoon in Mexico, the ball remains a powerful symbol of Maradona’s genius, controversy and enduring place in football history.