Diego Maradona's iconic 1986 'Hand of God' World Cup ball sells for $3.35m at auction
The match ball from Diego Maradona's 1986 'Hand of God' World Cup quarter-final has sold at auction for $3.35 million. While a significant sum, the final price fell well short of the $10 million pre-sale estimate.
Why it matters
The sale provides a new benchmark for the valuation of high-profile sports memorabilia in a cooling market.
The match ball used in Argentina's infamous 1986 World Cup quarter-final win over England has sold for $3.35 million (£2.6m) at auction. Despite initial pre-sale estimates reaching up to $10m, the artefact from Diego Maradona's legendary "Hand of God" performance drew substantial interest before the hammer fell on Saturday evening.
The official match ball from the 1986 World Cup quarter-final clash between Argentina and England fetched $3.35 million (£2.6m) at a Heritage Auctions sale on Saturday evening. Bidding opened at $2.5 million on the night of the event before reaching its final hammer price. Maradona used the historic piece of football memorabilia to score his infamous handball opener before adding a dazzling solo effort four minutes later.
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