Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m
The football used in the 1986 World Cup match where Diego Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal has been sold at auction for £2.5 million. The ball was previously owned by the match referee, Ali Bin Nasser.
Why it matters
It underscores the immense cultural and financial value placed on historical sports memorabilia.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, The 'Hand of God' football was previously sold in 2022
The football with which Diego Maradona scored his famous 'hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for £2.5m.
Maradona famously punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton in Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final win over England.
After the game, he told reporters it had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God".
Maradona later scored what became known as the 'goal of the century' in the same game, dribbling past five England outfield players before slotting the ball past Shilton.
Though it sold for $3.3m (£2.5m) at Heritage Auctions in the United States on Saturday, the ball had been expected to fetch nearer $10m (£7.3m).
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