The Adidas Azteca ball used during Diego Maradona’s iconic 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England has been sold at auction in the United States.
Diego Maradona’s iconic “Hand of God” World Cup ball has been sold for £2.5 million ($3.3 million) at auction in the United States, more than four decades after it was used in one of football’s most controversial matches.
The Adidas Azteca match ball was auctioned by Heritage Auctions and had been preserved by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City.
The match remains one of the most memorable encounters in World Cup history, with Maradona scoring both of Argentina’s goals.
His opening goal became one of football’s most debated moments. Maradona challenged England goalkeeper Peter Shilton for the ball and appeared to use his hand to direct it into the net. The officials allowed the goal to stand, and Maradona later famously described it as having been scored partly by the “Hand of God.”
Minutes later, Maradona produced another extraordinary moment. Starting inside his own half, he weaved past five England players before finishing beyond Shilton. The goal was later voted the “Goal of the Century” in a FIFA poll.
Despite the ball’s extraordinary historical significance, its final auction price was considerably below expectations. Reports had suggested that it could sell for around $10 million, but it ultimately fetched $3.3 million.
The latest auction marks another chapter in the ball’s unusual history. Bin Nasser had previously sold it in 2022 for about $2.37 million.
The referee kept the match ball after the famous quarter-final and later described it as a piece of football history. Bin Nasser also explained that he did not clearly see the handball and relied on his assistant referee before allowing Maradona’s goal to stand.
The sale further highlights the value of memorabilia associated with Maradona, one of football’s most influential players. His shirt from the same Argentina-England match sold for about $9.3 million in 2022, setting a record for a football shirt at the time.
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