The ball with which Diego Maradona scored one of the goals against England in the 1986 World Cup, in a move he says was made with the “hand of God”, was auctioned this Wednesday for £2 million.
London-based auctioneer Graham Budd announced in October that it expected sales between £2.5 (EUR 2.8 million) and £3 million (£3.4 million), well above the previous record of £420,000 (£ 420,000). ) grew up with the Olympic flame of the 1952 Helsinki Winter Games.
The ball auctioned this Wednesday was used on June 22, 1986 in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico, in which Argentina defeated England 2-1, four years after the conflict between the two countries, with the Malvinas war.
In the game, Maradona’s two goals went down in history, the first in the 51st minute, in a move where the referee failed to notice the Argentina player’s foul, placed his hand next to his head and made the move to clear the ball. bow.
Maradona said of the goal that it was made “a little bit with the head and a little bit with the hand of God”.
The second goal, scored a few minutes later, was considered the goal of the century, in a move that saw Maradona take off for midfield, dribbled past five opponents and looked to fend off goalkeeper Peter Shilton to make it 2-0 to make.
The victory paved the way for Argentina’s World Cup title, in a tournament that established Maradona as one of the greatest players in history.
“This ball is part of the history of international football. It is undoubtedly a good time to share it with the world,” said referee Ali Bennaceur, the owner of the ball, quoted by the auctioneer.
After the death of Maradona, aged 60, in November 2020, the Tunisian referee told AFP that he had not seen the hand but had doubts.
In May, the jersey Maradona used in the game was auctioned by Sotheby’s for $9.3 million (approximately €8.9 million).
Source: DN
