- Maradona’s famous ‘Hand of God’ ball is going to auction
- The historic ball could sell for about $10 million
- Bidding is scheduled to begin on August 21
The football used by Argentine icon Diego Maradona for his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup is expected to fetch around $10 million when it goes under the hammer in the United States this month.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the historic ball will be auctioned by Heritage Auctions in Texas, with bidding scheduled to begin at $2.5 million. The auction will run from August 21 to 23, with the organisers expecting the final price to reach eight figures.
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The ball became famous during Argentina’s quarter-final against England in Mexico after Maradona appeared to use his hand to beat goalkeeper Peter Shilton and put the ball into the net.
The referee failed to detect the handball and awarded the goal, which later became one of the most debated moments in World Cup history.
Maradona later famously described the goal as being scored partly with his head and partly with the “Hand of God.”
Argentina won the match 2-1 and went on to claim the World Cup title.
The upcoming auction follows the record-breaking sale of another piece of memorabilia from the same match. Maradona’s shirt from the Argentina-England encounter was sold for $9.3 million, making it the most expensive football shirt ever auctioned.
Maradona, who died in November 2020 at the age of 60, remains one of football’s most celebrated players. His success with Argentina and Napoli, combined with his unforgettable moments on the pitch, has kept demand for his memorabilia high.
The 1986 encounter between Argentina and England also carried significance beyond football. It came only four years after the Falklands War, a conflict that continues to shape relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
The two countries have maintained their rivalry on the football field over the years, while the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute remains a longstanding political issue.
As a result, the “Hand of God” ball represents more than a piece of sporting equipment, with its connection to one of football’s most iconic and controversial moments likely to make it highly attractive to collectors.
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