Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for $3.4 million at US auction

The ball used by Diego Maradona to score his famous "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico has sold for $3.4 million, about £2.5 million, at an auction held by Heritage Auctions in the United States. The ball became one of football's most recognizable artifacts after the Argentine forward used his hand to score in the quarterfinal, a goal allowed by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser. In the same match, Maradona also scored a second goal after dribbling past five England players, widely regarded as one of the greatest goals ever scored. Heritage Auctions' Mike Provenzale described the ball as "a unique piece, probably the most important object related to football." Bin Nasser, who had kept the match ball as a keepsake for more than three decades, sold it in 2022 for $2.37 million, though a follow-up auction the next year failed to reach the opening price. He also signed a letter that year confirming the ball was the one used in the match, and independent examinations verified its authenticity. Maradona's shirt from the same match, acquired by English midfielder Steve Hodge in the post-game swap, sold in 2022 for £7.1 million, setting a record for a football-related item at auction.