The ball Diego Maradona used to score his infamous "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for $3.3 million.
The sale, held on Saturday by Heritage Auctions in the United States, came in noticeably below initial estimates. There had been expectations the ball's value could approach $10 million.
The 1986 quarter-final
The goal came during Argentina's historic 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, which the Argentines won 2-1. Maradona opened the scoring by using his hand to send the ball over goalkeeper Peter Shilton, with the referee allowing the goal to stand.
After the match, Maradona gave the line that became part of football history, telling reporters the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
Just minutes later, Maradona scored one of the greatest goals of all time with the same ball. He started the move behind the halfway line, beat five England players, evaded Shilton and put the ball in the net. The goal became known as the "Goal of the Century."
Well below early estimates
The historic Adidas Azteca ball was sold on Saturday at a Heritage Auctions sale in the United States for $3.3 million, far short of the roughly $10 million some had expected it to reach.
Mike Provenzale, an expert at Heritage Auctions, told Reuters before the sale that it was truly a unique item, and that it could be argued to be the most important football relic in existence.
More than three decades in the referee's hands
The ball's history after the final whistle is also notable. Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the historic 1986 quarter-final, took the ball after the match and kept it in his possession for more than three decades.
In 2023, he signed a letter confirming it was the only ball used throughout the entire match, and its authenticity was also certified by independent experts.
Bin Nasser had sold the ball in 2022 for $2.37 million. Its new owner put it up for auction again in 2023, but no buyer was found at the time because bids failed to reach the minimum price set for the sale.
Maradona's shirt also sold for millions
Another high-value memento from the same historic match has also changed hands. The shirt Maradona wore against England was sold at auction in 2022 for £7.1 million.
