The ball with which Diego Maradona scored one of the goals against England in the 1986 World Cup, in a play that he said was with the help of the “hand of God”, was auctioned this Wednesday for two million pounds.
London-based auctioneer Graham Budd announced in October that it expected a sale of between £2.5 (EUR 2.8 million) and £3 million (£3.4 million), well above its previous record sales of £420,000 (£420,000). ) hoisted with the Olympic flame of the 1952 Helsinki Winter Games.
The ball that is being auctioned today was used on June 22, 1986, during the quarterfinal match of the World Cup in Mexico, in which Argentina beat England 2-1, four years after the conflict between the two countries, with the War of the Falklands.
In the match, Maradona’s two goals went down in history, the first in minute 51, in a play in which the referee did not detect the Argentine player’s infraction, placing his hand next to his head, making the movement to deflect the ball.
Maradona said, regarding the goal, that it was scored “a bit with his head, and a bit with the hand of God.”
The second goal, scored a few minutes later, was considered the goal of the century, in a play in which Maradona got out before midfield, dribbled past five opponents and appeared to deflect goalkeeper Peter Shilton, before making it 2-0.
The victory paved the way for Argentina’s World Cup title, in a tournament that established Maradona as one of the best players in history.
“This ball is part of the history of international football. Without a doubt, it is a good moment to share it with the world”, said referee Ali Bennaceur, owner of the ball, quoted by the auctioneer.
After Maradona’s death, at the age of 60, in November 2020, the Tunisian referee told AFP that he had not seen the hand, but had doubts.
In May, the shirt used by Maradona in the match was auctioned by Sotheby’s for 9.3 million dollars (about 8.9 million euros).
Source: TSF
