These historic Diego Maradona items are going up for auction

Diego Armando Maradona is making headlines once again. The legacy of the player will soon go under the hammer at Matchday Football Auction, which is set to offer a remarkable collection of garments and accessories that defined Pelusa’s life. Among the items are official shirts — including the one he wore in the infamous Battle of the Bernabéu against Athletic Bilbao — as well as the earrings from his farewell match with Boca Juniors, his last as a player, and even pieces tied to his now-legendary phrase: “I made a mistake and paid, but the ball doesn’t get dirty.”

Five years after leaving the earthly plane, Diego’s presence feels stronger than ever. Everything connected to the Argentine icon continues to captivate the public. It’s no surprise that his jersey from Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarterfinal victory over England remains the most expensive football shirt ever sold, fetching an astonishing €7.9 million.

The auction will feature more than twenty items worn or used by Maradona throughout his life. The event runs for 30 days, from October 28 to November 28. According to the auction house’s website, the lot includes shirts from his time at Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors (along with a commemorative plaque from the 1981 championship), Napoli, and even his cameos on the television program Ritmo de la Noche. But the undisputed highlight of the collection is a very special shirt from his time at Barcelona.

The crown jewel is Maradona’s shirt from the 1984 Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao — a match remembered less for its football than for its ferocity. It was a brutal encounter, particularly significant for Diego, who came face-to-face with Andoni Goikoetxea — the man whose infamous tackle a year earlier had shattered his ankle and sidelined him for more than 100 days.

The shirt itself bears witness to that chaos. Torn and battered, its damaged state only adds to its historical and emotional value. The violent brawl that erupted at the final whistle marked not only the end of the match but also the beginning of the end of Maradona’s time at Barcelona, leading to a three-month suspension. “Everyone came at me, and what had to happen, happened. There were no sneaky kicks — we all went head-on,” Diego would later recall, still bearing the scars from that night.

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“The shirt has a tear in the collar and a horizontal cut caused by the scuffle that broke out at the end of the match. It also shows several other rips around the neckline. These unique details make it unmistakably Maradona’s — the fabric’s tears, their pattern, and shape confirm its authenticity, beyond the immense history it represents. It stands as one of the most iconic shirts ever worn by the number 10,” the auction house notes.

This football relic had been forgotten for over forty years. “The shirt was collected from the locker room by a member of the club’s laundry staff. Unable to repair it, he kept it as a memento of that infamous night. Years later, he gave it to the father of its current owner — a bar owner who often served Barça employees. The shirt remained in that family for four decades, until its owner decided to put it up for auction,” the company adds.