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EXCLUSIVE: Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball hits the auction block, just months after his jersey from that game fetched $9.3 MILLION, with the Goldin founder describing the item as ‘central to possibly the most iconic moment in sports history’
The ball involved in Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal has come up for auction, with offers from $600,000.
In one of the most iconic moments in FIFA World Cup history, Maradona handballed past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals.
The iconic adidas ball was once owned by match referee Ali Bin Nasser, who has had it since the match was played on June 22, 1986, but has now come up for auction with Goldin and huge bids are expected for it. the – now deflated – treasured piece of memorabilia.
The ball used in Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986 goes up for auction
The now deflated ball is at $600,000 after two offers, but could fetch millions, experts say.
“This ball is pivotal to possibly the most iconic moment in sports history,” Goldin Co. founder Ken Goldin said.
‘The legacies of Maradona and the ‘Hand of God’ are forever intertwined and, generations from now, their story will continue to be told by fans around the world.
“With Lionel Messi heroically leading Argentina to their latest World Cup triumph, we anticipate a renewed interest in the legend of Maradona and the ball that changed football forever.”
If the latest piece of Maradona memorabilia is anything to go by, this ball is ready to cause a frenzy at the auction house.
Matchday referee Ali Bin Nasser (centre) has owned the ball since the match in June 1986
The shirt Maradona wore in that same ‘Hand of God’ match against England in 1986 sold for a staggering $9.3 million in May 2022.
At the time the sale took place, it was the highest price ever paid at auction for a piece of sports memorabilia.
the iconic ball it has stamped in black “Official Ball of the World Cup 1986 Ballon Officiel Coupe du Monde 1986” on one of the pentagonal panels and “Aztec Mexico”, the stadium where the match took place, stamped on another panel.
The ball also comes with a letter from Bin Nasser, as well as a Letter of Authenticity from Resolution Photomatching, which provided a ResMatch for the ball.
The bidding for the ball will end on February 8 at 9:00 p.m.