Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” ball is auctioned off for an astronomical price

At the 1986 World Cup, Maradona achieved one of the greatest individual performances by an athlete at such an event.

In a quarterfinal match against England, the star scored two goals, one of which went down in history because he scored it with his hand, which became known as “La Mano de Díos” (the Hand of God).

Now the ball that was used in that game is being auctioned.

A bola com que Maradona marcou o golo da “Mão de Deus” vai a leilão no próximo mês 👀 É estimado que seja vendida por um valor entre 2,5 e 3 MILHÕES 😱 pic.twitter.com/BSXTsqZLs7

— bwin_pt (@bwin_portugal) October 13, 2022

The item belongs to Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the match and did not notice the irregularity.

The ball is estimated to be worth between 2.5 and 3 million pounds (US$2.8 to 3.3 million).

“This ball is part of history. This is the right moment to share it with the world,” said the former referee.

The auction will take place on Nov. 16 as part of an event to mark the start of this year’s World Cup. Interested buyers can place their bids starting Oct. 28.

“A little bit with the head of Maradona and a little bit with the hand of God,” the star player said after the game.

The victory over England ensured the team’s continuity in the 1986 World Cup, which would end with the title win against Germany, and had a touch of “revenge” for the belligerent clashes between the two countries in the Falklands War.

“The timing of the match, the history between the two teams, and the ‘hand of God’ have led to this match being considered one of the most famous and exciting matches in soccer history,” said Graham Budd, chairman of Graham Budd Auctions, which will conduct the auction.

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