The legendary Adidas Azteca football used by Diego Maradona to score his controversial 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup has fetched £2.5 million at auction.

  • The 'Hand of God' football sold for £2.5 million ($3.3m) at Heritage Auctions.
  • The ball was preserved for over 30 years by 1986 referee Ali Bin Nasser.
  • Maradona scored both the 'Hand of God' and the 'Goal of the Century' in the same match.

In a monumental sale for sports memorabilia, the football used by the late Diego Maradona during his infamous 'Hand of God' goal has been auctioned for £2.5 million. This historic piece of sporting history captures one of the most debated moments in the annals of football, occurring during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England.

The goal, which saw Maradona punch the ball past England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton, remains etched in global memory. Following the match, Maradona famously remarked that the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."

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Historical Context and Significance

The 1986 quarter-final was not just defined by controversy, but by pure brilliance. In the same match, Maradona produced what is widely regarded as the 'Goal of the Century,' weaving through five English defenders in a display of unparalleled skill. This dual nature of the match—one goal of controversy and one of genius—makes the Adidas Azteca ball an unparalleled relic.

The provenance of this ball is impeccable. Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian referee who officiated the match, collected the ball at the final whistle and kept it for more than three decades. His authentication in 2023 confirmed that this was indeed the sole match ball used during that historic encounter.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the auctioning of such high-profile sporting artifacts reflects the growing intersection of sports, culture, and high-stakes investment. As legendary figures like Maradona pass into history, their physical connections to iconic moments become increasingly valuable assets for collectors worldwide.

This football is arguably the most significant soccer item in existence, representing the raw emotion and controversy of the beautiful game.

While the ball fetched $3.3 million at Heritage Auctions in the United States, industry experts had speculated it could reach as high as $10 million. This follows the massive sale of Maradona's match-worn shirt from the same game, which went for £7.1 million in 2022.

Did You Know?: The ball was previously sold in 2022 for $2.37 million before returning to the auction block.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Who owned the ball before the recent auction?
Answer: The ball was held by the match referee, Ali Bin Nasser, for over 30 years.

Question 2: How much did Maradona's shirt sell for?
Answer: The shirt worn during the same 1986 match sold for £7.1 million in 2022.