The 1986 World Cup Ball From Maradona's Hand of God Goal Sells for Over $3 Million USD at Auction

Summary

The Adidas Azteca football used during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England sold for £2.5 million at Heritage AuctionsMatch referee Ali Bin Nasser originally kept the historic artifact that Diego Maradona used to score the infamous Hand of God goalThe final hammer price fell significantly short of initial pre-auction estimates that projected a massive $10 million valuation

The football responsible for one of the most polarizing moments in sports history just found a new owner. The adidas Azteca used during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England officially sold for £2.5 million GBP (approx. $3.4 million USD) at a Heritage Auctions event in Dallas. Diego Maradona famously punched this exact ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton to secure a legendary 2-1 victory for his nation.

The legendary Argentine later described the opening goal as being scored a little with his head and a little with the hand of God. Beyond that controversial moment, the same ball also touched the pitch for what fans crowned the Goal of the Century. Maradona masterfully dribbled past five English outfield players before sliding his final shot into the net. Heritage Auctions specialist Mike Provenzale described the artifact as arguably the most significant soccer item in existence.

Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser originally collected the ball at full-time and held onto it for over three decades. The official missed the notorious handball infraction in real time and allowed the goal to stand. Bin Nasser eventually parted ways with the memorabilia in 2022 for £1.74 million GBP (approx. $2.3 million USD). A subsequent owner attempted to move the item in 2023 but failed to meet the minimum reserve price during that specific bidding cycle.

Independent authenticators verified its status as the sole ball used throughout the entire 90 minutes of the storied match. While £2.5 million GBP (approx. $3.4 million USD) remains a monumental sum for sporting equipment, the final figure landed well below pre-auction estimates that hovered near $10 million USD. The sports memorabilia market continues to set high benchmarks for match-worn gear compared to field equipment. For direct comparison, the jersey worn by the Argentine forward during the exact same tournament bracket shattered records when it sold for £7.1 million GBP (approx. $9.6 million USD) back in 2022.

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