CNN
—
Six months after his Hand of God shirt broke auction records, another memorabilia linked to Diego Maradona’s most famous match is set to sell for millions.
The ball, used in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals between Argentina and England, will be auctioned in London on November 16 and is valued at between $2.7 million and $3.3 million.
With that ball, Maradona scored two legendary goals – the first when he controversially used his hand and boxed the ball into the net, and the second when he dribbled past several England players and rounded goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Argentina would win the match – and the tournament a week later.
In May, the shirt Maradona wore against England was sold at an online auction for US$9.3 – at the time the highest price ever paid for a sporting memorabilia.
But in a blockbuster year for the sports memorabilia market, that number was eclipsed three months later when a Mickey Mantle baseball card raked in $12.6 million while Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey for Was sold for $10.1 million in September.
The 1986 World Cup quarter-final ball currently belongs to Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian referee who oversaw the game and let Maradona’s controversial first goal stand.
“This ball is part of international football history – it seems the right time to share it with the world,” said Bin Nasser.
When later asked about his first goal against England, Maradona, who died two years ago, said it was scored “a little bit with Maradona’s head and a little bit with the hand of God”.
London-based Graham Budd Auctions is overseeing sales of the ball at its World Cup special next month.
“2022 was an amazing year in the sports memorabilia market, with three records broken,” said Graham Budd, chairman of the auction house.
“It’s an exciting time in the market and we’re wondering if this famous football will break records too.”