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How much could Diego Maradona ‘Hand of God’ ball be sold for?

Maradona scored the opening goal of the game by punching the ball past England netminder Peter Shilton.

Kieran Quaile
Kieran Quailekquaile90
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Argentina captain Diego Maradona (l) shakes hands with England captain Peter Shilton (r) as referee Ali Bennaceur (c) checks the match ball is fully inflated and linesman Morera Berny Ulloa (far l) looks on (Photo by Peter Robinson/EMPICS via Getty Image
Peter Robinson - EMPICSPA Images via Getty Images

The match ball used by Diego Maradona to score his “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup is to go on auction next month.

The World Cup ball used in the quarter-final fixture between England and Argentina carries an estimated price of £2.5m to £3m and is being sold by Ali Bin Nasser, the referee who allowed Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal to stand in the game.

“This ball is part of football history - it is the right time to be sharing it with the world,” Bin Nasser said.

Maradona, who died in November 2020, scored the opening goal of the game by punching the ball past England netminder Peter Shilton.

Bin Nasser didn’t spot the handball and allowed the goal to stand. Maradona went on to describe the goal as being “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.

Maradona’s second goal was sensational, dribbling past five England players before scoring past Shilton.

FILE PHOTO: A resident stands near a mural depicting the famous "Hand of God" goal by former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona, in light of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup at the Agua Santa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro May 21, 2010.
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FILE PHOTO: A resident stands near a mural depicting the famous "Hand of God" goal by former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona, in light of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup at the Agua Santa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro May 21, 2010. Sergio MoraesREUTERS

“Hand of God” helps Argentina win World Cup

Argentina won the match 2-1 on the way to becoming 1986 World Cup champions in Mexico.

The ball is being sold at auction on 16 November as part of a World Cup special event and prospective buyers can register their bids online from 28 October.

“The timing of the match, the history between the two teams and the handball have all led to this match going down as one of the most famous and emotive matches in football history,” said Graham Budd, chairman of Graham Budd Auctions.

“With the history surrounding the ball, we are expecting this lot to be hugely popular when it comes up for auction.”

Sotheby's technicians adjust the shirt worn by Argentina's Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match against England. The jersey that Argentina football legend Diego Maradona wore when scoring twice against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous "hand of God" goal, was auctioned for $9.3 million, a record for any item of sports memorabilia, Sotheby's said in May.
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Sotheby's technicians adjust the shirt worn by Argentina's Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match against England. The jersey that Argentina football legend Diego Maradona wore when scoring twice against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous "hand of God" goal, was auctioned for $9.3 million, a record for any item of sports memorabilia, Sotheby's said in May. ADRIAN DENNISAFP

Hodge sells Maradona shirt

Next month’s auction comes just months after Maradona’s shirt from the Argentina-England game was sold for £7m by former England midfielder Steve Hodge, who had swapped shirts with the Argentinian legend at full-time. It was a world record for a piece of sports memorabilia.