Maradona's 'Hand of God' Ball Sells for £2.5 Million

The ball Diego Maradona used for his celebrated “Hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup has sold for $3.3 million (£2.5 million) at auction in the United States. BBC Sport reported that the Adidas Azteca was sold by Heritage Auctions on Saturday, although it had been expected to bring a price closer to $10 million (£7.3 million).

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Maradona handled the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to open the scoring in Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final victory. The goal was allowed to stand, and Maradona later described it as having been scored partly with his head and partly with “the hand of God.” The match sent Argentina through to the semi-finals of the tournament in Mexico.

The same ball was also used for Maradona’s second goal in the match. He carried it past five England outfield players before beating Shilton, producing a goal that became another defining image of Argentina’s 1986 title-winning campaign. Argentina went on to win the World Cup, with Maradona captaining the team.

The ball’s documented path began with Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who collected it after the final whistle and retained it for more than three decades. BBC Sport said Bin Nasser signed a letter in 2023 confirming it was the only ball used in the match, a claim that was also supported by additional independent authentication.

Bin Nasser previously sold the ball in 2022 for $2.37 million (£1.74 million). Its buyer offered it at auction again in 2023, but that attempt ended without a sale because bidding did not reach the minimum price. The latest $3.3 million transaction therefore represents an increase over its last completed sale, despite falling well short of the pre-auction expectation.

Other memorabilia from the Mexico City quarter-final has also commanded a multimillion-pound price. The shirt worn by Maradona in the match sold for £7.1 million at auction in 2022. Together, the shirt and ball remain directly tied to the two contrasting goals that decided one of the World Cup’s most remembered matches.