The football used by Diego Maradona to score his infamous “Hand of God” goal during Argentina’s 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final victory over England is expected to fetch as much as $10 million at a US auction later this month.
Maradona scored the controversial goal by punching the ball into the net, with the infringement going unnoticed by the referee. The strike became one of the most iconic and debated moments in football history.
Reflecting on the goal after the match, the Argentine legend famously said it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
Argentina went on to win the tournament, with Maradona playing a pivotal role in the country’s second World Cup triumph.
Texas-based Heritage Auctions said the ball will go under the hammer between August 21 and 23. Bidding is set to open at $2.5 million, with the auction house projecting a final sale price in excess of $10 million.
Maradona’s jersey from the same Argentina-England encounter, sold after his death in November 2020, remains the most expensive football shirt ever auctioned, fetching $9.3 million.
The historic rivalry between Argentina and England was renewed at this year’s World Cup, where Argentina defeated England in the semi-finals before finishing as runners-up after losing the final.
Beyond football, relations between the two nations have long been shaped by their sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.
