The Maradona Hand of God ball has sold for £2.5 million at an auction in the United States. The football became one of the most famous sporting objects in history after Diego Maradona used it during Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England.
Maradona scored Argentina’s opening goal by punching the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. The referee allowed the goal to stand, despite protests from the English players.
After the match, Maradona famously described the goal as being scored partly with his head and partly with the “hand of God”.
Argentina went on to win the match 2-1 and advanced to the semi-finals.
The Ball From a Historic World Cup Match
The same game produced another unforgettable moment. Maradona collected the ball in his own half before dribbling past five England outfield players.
He then calmly placed the ball beyond Shilton. The goal later became known as the “goal of the century” and remains one of the most celebrated goals in World Cup history.
The Adidas Azteca ball attracted significant interest before Saturday’s auction. Heritage Auctions ultimately sold it for $3.3 million, equivalent to around £2.5 million.
However, the final price fell well below expectations. Auction specialists had estimated that the ball could sell for close to $10 million.
Mike Provenzale, a specialist auctioneer at Heritage Auctions, described the football as a unique piece of sporting history.
Referee Kept the Ball for Decades
Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser officiated the Argentina-England match in Mexico in 1986. He collected the ball after the final whistle and kept it for more than 30 years.
Bin Nasser later provided documentation supporting the ball’s authenticity. In 2023, he signed a letter confirming that it was the only match ball used during the famous game.
Independent authentication also supported the claim.
The ball previously changed hands in 2022. Bin Nasser sold it for $2.37 million, or about £1.74 million at the time.
Its new owner attempted to sell it again in 2023. However, the auction ended without a sale because bidders failed to reach the required minimum price.
Maradona Memorabilia Continues to Attract Buyers
The latest sale highlights the enormous value attached to Maradona’s most important football memorabilia.
The Argentine star’s shirt from the same 1986 World Cup match also attracted huge interest. It sold for £7.1 million at auction in 2022.
Maradona died in November 2020 at the age of 60. His legacy remains deeply connected to Argentina’s 1986 World Cup triumph.
The Maradona Hand of God ball now joins a small collection of historic sports memorabilia that have sold for millions, reflecting the lasting fascination with one of football’s most controversial and memorable moments.
