Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball heads to US auction

The soccer ball that Diego Maradona used to score his infamous "Hand of God" goal during Argentina's 1986 World Cup victory over England is heading to a U.S. auction this month, with expectations it could sell for as much as $10 million. Heritage Auctions in Texas will put the ball up for bidding between August 21 and 23, starting with an opening bid of $2.5 million.

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After the game, the Argentine star said his goal was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

Maradona's controversial goal in the quarter-final match at the Estadio Azteca saw him punch the ball past the England goalkeeper. After the game, the Argentine star famously said the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." Argentina went on to win the World Cup that year.

Adding to its historical significance, the same ball was used by Maradona to score what is often called the "Goal of the Century." In that play, he dribbled past multiple English defenders before scoring. "Both of the goals scored are just so iconic, so memorable," said Dan Imler, vice president of sports at Heritage Auctions, calling it "easily the most historic ball in the realm of soccer."

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I think it’s easily the most historic ball in the realm of soccer.

The jersey Maradona wore during that same Argentina-England match holds the record for the most expensive soccer shirt, having sold for $9.3 million. The enduring rivalry between Argentina and England, marked by political tensions over the Falkland Islands, was also highlighted in a recent World Cup semi-final.

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Both of the goals scored are just so iconic, so memorable.