Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball sells for £2.5m – below expectations

The football used by Diego Armando Maradona to score his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has been sold at auction for £2.5m.

The figure was significantly below the amount expected for the historic ball. The Telegraph reported that estimates had suggested it could fetch about £7.3m.

The sale relates to the quarter-final match between Argentina and England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a game remembered for two of the most famous goals in football history – both scored by Maradona.

The first came in controversial circumstances. Maradona used his hand to direct the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, prompting strong and prolonged protests from the England players. However, the Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser allowed the goal to stand.

Maradona later referred to the incident as having been scored “a little by the hand of God”, a description that became permanently associated with the goal.

His second goal of the match was celebrated for entirely different reasons. It was later widely described as the “Goal of the Century” because of the quality and control involved.

Maradona began the move around the halfway line before embarking on a remarkable run. Using his left foot, he evaded six England players, including Shilton, and finished calmly into the net.

Argentina went on to win the match 2-1, with Maradona’s two goals deciding a quarter-final that has remained one of the most discussed games in World Cup history.

The auction of the ball follows the sale of another important item from the same match. In 2022, the shirt worn by Maradona against England was offered at auction.

The Argentina number 10 shirt had been in the possession of England midfielder Steve Hodge since the end of the match. Hodge exchanged shirts with Maradona after England’s defeat in the dramatic quarter-final.

The 22 June 1986 meeting is regarded as a landmark occasion in Argentina’s football history. It combined a bitterly disputed goal with an extraordinary individual effort and helped establish Maradona as one of the defining figures of the sport.

The Argentine died on 25 November 2020 at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack. He had experienced health problems for an extended period before his death.

The football’s £2.5m sale places a monetary value on an object connected to one of the most significant and controversial moments in the history of the World Cup, although the final price fell well short of the £7.3m forecast.