The football famously used by Diego Maradona to score both of Argentina‘s goals in their 2-1 victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final has been sold at auction for $3.35 million. The sale took place at Heritage Auctions, falling short of the pre-sale estimate of $10 million.
The match, held in Mexico City, saw Maradona score the controversial ‘Hand of God’ goal, followed just four minutes later by another goal that was later voted the FIFA World Cup Goal of the Century. This high-stakes encounter occurred four years after the Falklands War between the two nations.
The Iconic Goals
The ‘Hand of God’ incident unfolded six minutes into the second half of the game. Maradona played the ball forward to teammate Jorge Valdano, and an England midfielder, Steve Hodge, touched it, sending it looping towards the penalty area. Maradona and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton both moved to intercept the ball.
With more advantageous positioning, Maradona appeared to head the ball into the open goal, giving Argentina a crucial 1-0 lead. However, English players immediately protested, indicating a handball. Replays later confirmed that Maradona used his left hand, not his head, to score. Despite the protests, neither the referee nor his assistant saw the handball, and the goal was allowed to stand. Instant replay technology was not introduced to the World Cup until the 2010s.
After Argentina secured their 2-1 victory, Maradona famously stated that the opening goal was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” Years later, in his autobiography, Maradona referred to it as “the hand of Diego,” comparing the moment to picking an Englishman’s pocket.
Just four minutes after the ‘Hand of God’ goal, Maradona scored his second goal of the match. This second goal involved him dribbling past five England outfield players before scoring past Shilton, a feat that would later be recognized as the FIFA World Cup Goal of the Century.
Auction History and Significance
The ball’s recent sale was part of Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. The auction featured various items linked to prominent sports figures, including a rare Honus Wagner baseball card, game-worn jerseys from Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle, and memorabilia from Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Mike Provenzale, the production manager at Heritage Auctions, described the ball as an iconic item, stating that its significance is recognized even by those unfamiliar with soccer or the event. Chris Ivy, Heritage Auctions’ director of sports auctions, noted the British outcry that resonated throughout the soccer world following the match, acknowledging their legitimate disappointment while emphasizing the spectacular nature of both goals.
The Tunisian referee for the match, Ali Bin Nasser, took possession of the Adidas Azteca ball after the game, citing FIFA protocols. He kept the ball for 36 years before selling it at auction in 2022 for $2.37 million. In 2023, the ball was put up for sale again but did not sell as bids did not meet the minimum value set by the seller.
The ball’s current sale price of $3.35 million is roughly one-third of the $9.3 million paid by an anonymous buyer in 2022 for the jersey Maradona wore during the same game. That jersey set an auction record for sports memorabilia at the time, a record that was later surpassed.
The ball’s return to the market this summer coincided with the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which had increased interest in soccer collectibles among American collectors. Despite this, the final sale price was lower than anticipated, with bidding opening at $2.5 million.
Source: smithsonianmag.com
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