“Hand of God” Match Ball Put Up for Auction with Multi-Million Dollar Starting Bid

The ball used during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England, famous for Diego Maradona’s controversial goal, has been put up for auction in Dallas with a starting price of 2.5 million dollars.

Auction Details and Projections

The ball from the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match, in which Argentina defeated England 2:1 following two goals by Maradona—including one scored with the “Hand of God”—has been put up for sale by a Dallas auction house and could reach a staggering amount of over 10 million dollars. The opening price is set at 2.5 million dollars.

The auction is scheduled to take place from August 21 to 23.

Maradona’s Historic Legacy

Maradona created Argentina’s most spectacular sports myth by leading the team to the 1986 World Cup championship. Two goals in the quarterfinal against the “Sons of Albion,” including the one scored in the 51st minute under questionable circumstances with the help of a hand—which the player himself later called the “Hand of God”—are the most important point in the narrative about the football national team of the South American country.

The ball might surpass the amount fetched at auction for Maradona’s shirt from that memorable match, which was sold in 2022 for a record 9.3 million dollars. Previously, the football had been put up for auctions twice, but the sale ultimately did not go through.

Origin and Authentication

The auction house reported the circumstances of its acquisition on its websites. It cited information that the Tunisian referee of that match, Ali Bennaceur, stated in writing in 2023 that a few years after the end of the World Cup he recovered the only ball used during the Argentina-England match. He asked his assistants to sign it and kept it for over 30 years.

The ball has been positively verified as authentic by two companies specializing in sports collectibles.