Maradona's 'Hand of God' soccer ball to be auctioned in US, estimated at $10 million

The soccer ball used by Diego Maradona for the infamous "Hand of God" goal during Argentina's 1986 World Cup victory over England is set to go up for auction in the United States in late August. The ball is expected to fetch over $10 million.

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I believe it is the most iconic ball in the history of football

Heritage Auctions is organizing the sale, which will take place from August 21-23 with a starting bid of $2.5 million. The auction house's vice president of sports, Dan Imler, called it "the most iconic ball in the history of football," noting the significant growth in the market for high-value sports memorabilia.

Last year, Maradona's jersey from the same match sold for a record $9.3 million. The ball itself was previously offered at auction in 2022 and 2023, with bids nearing $2 million on both occasions. The 1986 match, played four years after the Falklands War, was steeped in symbolic meaning and significantly contributed to Maradona's controversial legend. He passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60.

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the market for exceptional sports collectibles has grown considerably

Maradona famously used his hand to score the opening goal in the 51st minute, later quipping about the "Hand of God." Just four minutes later, he scored a legendary solo goal, dribbling past four English players from his own half before scoring. This iconic performance cemented Maradona's place in football history, albeit with a controversial asterisk.

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Hand of God