Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup “Hand of God” goal ball will be auctioned next month for £2.5m–£3m.
The Argentina player famously punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to open the score in the quarterfinal at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. After the infamous event, he scored the “Goal of the Century” as England lost 2-1 to exit the competition.
Ali Bin Nasser, who refereed the match and missed the handball, owns the ball. Graham Budd Auctions sells it on November 16. The Tunisian said it was time to share the treasure with the world and hoped the buyer would showcase it.
He stated of the handball goal, “I couldn’t see the action. Shilton and Maradona were behind me. As per Fifa’s pre-tournament regulations, I looked to my linesman for confirmation of the goal’s legitimacy. He returned to the halfway line, confirming it.
“After the match, England head coach Bobby Robson told me, ‘You did a fine job but the linesman was irresponsible.’” Maradona, who died in November 2020, said the goal was scored “a bit with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
Graham Budd, the auctioneer, said, “With the history surrounding the ball, we are expecting this lot to be highly popular when it comes up for auction.”
Argentina won the World Cup after defeating West Germany. In May, Maradona’s quarter-final shirt sold for £7.1m, a sports memorabilia record. Next month’s sale will include Bin Nasser’s England-Argentina shirt and Maradona’s signed shirt.
