The ball used by Diego Maradona to score two of the most famous goals in World Cup history has been sold for $3.3 million (£2.5 million) at auction in the United States.
The Adidas Azteca was used during Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a match forever associated with Maradona’s controversial opening goal and his remarkable second.
Maradona gave Argentina the lead after using his hand to send the ball beyond England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, an incident that was missed by match officials and later became known as the “Hand of God” goal.
Only minutes later, the Argentina captain produced another historic moment. He carried the ball through England’s defence, beating five outfield players before finishing past Shilton. The effort was later widely celebrated as the “Goal of the Century.”
Heritage Auctions sold the match ball on Saturday for considerably less than its pre-sale expectations. Estimates had suggested it could reach around $10 million (£7.3 million).
The ball had been kept by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the quarter-final and took possession of it after the final whistle. He retained it for more than 30 years before eventually selling it.
Its provenance was strengthened in 2023 when Bin Nasser signed documentation confirming that the same ball had been used throughout the match. Additional independent authentication also supported its connection to the historic game.
Bin Nasser originally sold the ball in 2022 for $2.37 million (£1.74 million). The buyer attempted to auction it again the following year, but the item failed to sell because bidding did not reach the required reserve price.
Maradona memorabilia from the 1986 England match has previously attracted even larger sums. The Argentina shirt he wore during the quarter-final was sold in 2022 for £7.1 million, underlining the enduring value of items linked to one of football’s most memorable performances.