The soccer ball used in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England – in which Diego Maradona scored two of the most iconic goals the sport has ever seen – is set to fetch up to 3 $.3 million when it goes to auction in London next month.
The ball currently belongs to Ali Bin Nasser, 78, the Tunisian referee who officiated the match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Maradona scored twice in the space of five minutes in the second half, with both goals instantly falling into footballing lore.
For the first, the number 10 star infamously used his left hand to knock the ball past England keeper Peter Shilton and into the net, in a clear breach of the rules which was missed by Bin Nasser.
Maradona later described the goal as being scored « a bit of the hand of God » — giving the moment its famous nickname.
Four minutes later, Maradona produced another iconic moment that would be dubbed ‘the goal of the century’ as he blasted his way past a crowd of England players to score a brilliant solo strike.
Argentina won the match 2-1 before going all the way to lift the World Cup with Maradona as captain.
Referee Bin Nasser collected the ball after the quarter-final as a souvenir and had it signed by his fellow officials.
« This ball is part of international football history – now is the right time to share it with the world, » Bin Nasser said of the sale.
The item will go up for auction on November 16 in a sale run by London-based Graham Budd Auctions, and has been valued between $2.7 and $3.3 million.
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Maradona died aged 60 in November 2020 after suffering a heart attack.
His death has left the footballing world in mourning over the loss of a man widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play football.
Memorabilia related to the late football idol remain in high demand.
In May, the shirt worn by the playmaker for the World Cup match against England sold for $9.3 million at an online auction.
It was a record before being eclipsed by the $10.1 million price tag fetched last month for a jersey worn by basketball icon Michael Jordan during his famous NBA Finals series ‘Last Dance’. in 1998.
