Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Ball Sells for $3.35 Million at Auction
Sport
The Adidas Azteca football used by Diego Maradona to score his famous “Hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final has sold at Heritage Auctions for $3.355 million, including the buyer’s premium. The final price was well below the auction house’s pre-sale estimate of $10 million.
Argentina faced England on June 22, 1986, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, winning 2–1. Maradona scored both goals for Argentina. His opening goal came after he used his hand to send the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser failed to spot the handball and allowed the goal to stand.
After the match, Maradona famously described the goal as being scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
Minutes later, Maradona scored again in an individual effort that became known as the “Goal of the Century”. Starting the move in his own half, he dribbled past several England players, including Shilton, before finishing into an empty net. The goal was later voted by fans as the best goal in the history of the 20th-century World Cups.
Following the match, the ball remained with Ali Bin Nasser, who kept it for more than three decades. Independent experts subsequently authenticated the ball by matching its distinctive marks and signs of wear with photographs from the 1986 match.
For the latest auction, Heritage Auctions set the opening bid at $2.5 million and placed a pre-sale estimate of $10 million on the item. The sale was completed on August 22. According to Heritage Auctions, the $3.355 million result set a record for a soccer memorabilia item other than a jersey.
For comparison, the shirt Maradona wore during the same match was sold by Sotheby’s for nearly $9.3 million in 2022.
After the match, Maradona famously described the goal as being scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
Minutes later, Maradona scored again in an individual effort that became known as the “Goal of the Century”. Starting the move in his own half, he dribbled past several England players, including Shilton, before finishing into an empty net. The goal was later voted by fans as the best goal in the history of the 20th-century World Cups.
Following the match, the ball remained with Ali Bin Nasser, who kept it for more than three decades. Independent experts subsequently authenticated the ball by matching its distinctive marks and signs of wear with photographs from the 1986 match.
For the latest auction, Heritage Auctions set the opening bid at $2.5 million and placed a pre-sale estimate of $10 million on the item. The sale was completed on August 22. According to Heritage Auctions, the $3.355 million result set a record for a soccer memorabilia item other than a jersey.
For comparison, the shirt Maradona wore during the same match was sold by Sotheby’s for nearly $9.3 million in 2022.
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