Diego Maradona’s hand of God match ball from the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England has sold for $3.35 million at auction -- one of the most expensive pieces of football memorabilia ever offered to collectors. The winner of the successful bid was not identified due to security and privacy fears in the high-profile sale.
The auction was organised by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, which had much higher hopes for the historic football. The auction house had projected that the ball would fetch at least $10 million, but the final price of $3.35 million was much less than that. Still, the sale does show that it’s not just commercial but also historical to have the ball in the collection of one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history.
The ball became famous in the quarter-final match in 1986 in the 1986 World Cup between Argentina and England in Mexico. Maradona scored two of the most iconic goals in football history during that match, and Argentina ended up winning 2-1. The first goal became famous when Maradona appeared to draw the ball into the net from his hand, and the referee let the goal stand, triggering protests from the English players.
Maradona later said the goal was largely made possible by “the hand of God”, and his players have always referred to the goal as that moment. Decades later, the goal remains one of the most controversial moments in international football. The second goal struck by Maradona in the same match was almost the exact opposite. He got the ball deep in his own half and dribbled past a few England players and finished with aplomb. It is now called the “goal of the century” and is widely recognised as one of the greatest individual goals ever scored in a World Cup.
The historic ball was kept by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who had officiated the quarter-final. The referee kept it for approximately 36 years before selling it in 2022 for $2.37 million. Now the price of the classic match ball has also gone up so much that it may be hard for people to believe in the story of Maradona’s life any more.
And the ball is not the only piece of memorabilia from that famous match to attract huge interest. Maradona’s Argentina jersey, worn in the quarter-final against England, was auctioned in 2022 for $9.3 million. It had belonged to former England midfielder Steve Hodge, who took off his jersey and handed it over after the match.
Maradona’s career transcended that unforgettable World Cup. He played for several top clubs in a career going back decades and became so much better known for his performances with Napoli in Italy. He scored 81 goals for Napoli in 188 games between 1984 and 1991 and turned the club into one of the strongest teams in Italian football. His success in Naples made him a legend and made him one of the greatest football players of all time.
Before joining Napoli, Maradona also played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors and Barcelona. Between 1976 and 1981, he made 167 appearances with Argentinos Juniors and scored 116 goals. He then spent a season with Boca Juniors, scoring 28 goals in 40 matches before moving to Barcelona, where he scored 22 goals in 36 games.
After leaving Napoli, Maradona played for Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys before returning to Boca Juniors. His club life was interspersed with an international career as well. He made his Argentina debut in 1977 and represented the national team until 1994. He also played for Argentina's youth teams and was part of the country’s 1986 World Cup team.
Despite the controversies that surrounded parts of his personal and professional life, Maradona is still a figure in the world of football world and he is still legendary. His talent, dramatic career and memorable moments have been so strong that the collectors’ attention is still on him. The $3.35 million sale of the “Hand of God” ball is a further reminder of the lasting cultural and sporting significance of Maradona’s name.
