Diego Maradona: The ball from the "Hand of God" is for sale

The iconic soccer ball that Diego Maradona used to score the controversial "Hand of God" goal during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England is now available for auction. The ball, which was validated despite the clear handball, is being offered by Heritage Auctions in the United States, with an estimated sale price exceeding $10 million.

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I think it's the most iconic ball in the history of football

Bidding for the ball is scheduled to take place from August 21 to 23, with an initial asking price of $2.5 million. Dan Imler, vice president of sports at Heritage Auctions, described the ball as "the most iconic ball in football history." He also noted the significant growth in the market for exceptional sports memorabilia in recent years.

This auction follows the record-breaking sale of the jersey Maradona wore during that same 1986 match, which fetched $9.3 million in 2022. The ball itself has been put up for auction twice before, in 2022 and 2023, with offers reaching nearly $2 million on each occasion.

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and the market for exceptional sports collectibles has grown significantly in recent years

The 1986 match, imbued with symbolic weight just four years after the Falklands War between Argentina and the UK, significantly contributed to Maradona's complex legacy. In the 51st minute of the game, Maradona clearly used his hand to score, later joking that it was "the hand of God." Just four minutes later, he scored a legendary solo goal, dribbling from his own half past four players and the English goalkeeper. Argentina went on to win the World Cup that year. The ball was reportedly kept by the match referee, Ali Bennaceur, for over thirty years and has been authenticated by specialized sports memorabilia companies.

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the hand of God