The historic football used in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, with which Diego Maradona scored his legendary 'Hand of God' goal, has officially been sold at an auction in the United States for $3.3m (£2.5m). Held on Saturday at Heritage Auctions, the event brought one of the most iconic pieces of sporting memorabilia back into the spotlight. Although the item was originally anticipated to fetch closer to $10m (£7.3m), the final winning bid concluded at $3.3m.
A One-of-a-Kind Sporting Artifact
Prior to the bidding process, auction specialists highlighted the extraordinary cultural and historical value of the ball. Mike Provenzale, a specialist auctioneer at Heritage, described the artifact by noting, "Arguably the most significant soccer item that exists." The single Adidas Azteca ball represents a pivotal moment in international football culture, making it an unmatched item for sports collectors worldwide.
The Famous 1986 Quarter-Final Match
The iconic ball earned its place in sports history during Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final victory over England at the 1986 World Cup. During the match, Maradona famously leaped and punched the ball past English goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Following the game, when questioned by reporters about the incident, Maradona remarked that the goal had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
In that exact same match, Maradona went on to score what was later voted the 'goal of the century.' Demonstrating unmatched skill, he dribbled past five England outfield players before maneuvering around Shilton to neatly place the ball into the back of the net.
Over Three Decades with the Tunisian Referee
At the final whistle of the 1986 clash, Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser collected the Adidas Azteca match ball and preserved it in his personal possession for more than 30 years. In 2023, Bin Nasser signed a formal letter verifying that this was indeed the sole ball utilized throughout the duration of the match, an authenticity claim later confirmed by independent authentication experts.
Previous Auction Attempts and Ownership History
Bin Nasser initially put the football up for sale in 2022, where it fetched $2.37m (£1.74m). The buyer subsequently placed the artifact back on the market in 2023. However, during that attempt, the bidding failed to meet the minimum reserve price set by the owner, leaving it unsold. The latest auction in the United States has now successfully placed this piece of footballing heritage with a new owner for $3.3m.
