Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” ball is back in the news after being sold at auction for about $3.35 million (€2.875 million).
1. It was used in one of football’s most controversial goals.
On 22 June 1986, Maradona used his left hand to push the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton in Argentina’s 2–1 World Cup quarter-final victory. The referee did not see the handball and awarded the goal.
2. Maradona scored another legendary goal with the same ball.
Just four minutes after the “Hand of God”, he dribbled past five England players before scoring what became known as the “Goal of the Century.”
3. The referee kept the ball for more than 30 years.
Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the match, retained the Adidas Azteca ball after the game.
4. The ball has changed hands through auctions.
Bin Nasser first sold it in 2022 for around $2.37 million. It was later offered again before reaching its latest auction.
5. It has now become a multimillion-dollar piece of football history.
Heritage Auctions sold the ball for $3.35 million, although that was considerably below the pre-auction estimate of about $10 million.
The 1986 Argentina–England quarter-final produced two of the most famous goals in World Cup history, both scored by the same man: Diego Armando Maradona.
One was controversial. The other was extraordinary. Both were scored with the same ball.
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