The football used by Diego Maradona to score his infamous “Hand of God” goal during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England sold for 3.3 million dollars, according to Heritage Auctions.
The 1986 World Cup Auction and Financial Estimates
Heritage Auctions placed the historical match ball on the block at the end of June to coincide with the World Cup calendar. Bidding opened at 2.5 million dollars. Representatives for the auction house initially anticipated that the final sale price could reach 9.2 million dollars—approximately 190 million crowns—which would have matched the high-water mark set when Maradona’s jersey from the exact same match sold in 2022, according to auction house disclosures.
Did you know? Heritage Auctions categorized the historical ball as a “golden grail” for collectors before the bidding opened in the United States.
Context of the Argentina-England Quarterfinal
The fixture remains one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history, driven by two starkly different goals scored by the Argentina captain. Maradona secured a 2–1 victory for his squad by scoring first with his hand—an incident he famously described as the “hand of God”—before following it up with a legendary solo run. That second goal featured the forward dribbling past five opposing players from his own half before rounding the goalkeeper.
Valuation Comparison: Match Ball Versus Match Worn Jersey
The final auction price of 3.3 million dollars falls short of the record-breaking 9.2 million dollars achieved by Maradona’s match-worn jersey from the 1986 showdown two years prior.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Maradona World Cup ball sell for?
According to Heritage Auctions, the ball sold for 3.3 million dollars, which equals roughly 68 million crowns.
What was the starting bid for the football?
Bidding for the item opened at 2.5 million dollars at the end of June.
How does this price compare to Maradona’s jersey?
The sale price of 3.3 million dollars sits below the 9.2 million dollars fetched by Maradona’s jersey from the same 1986 quarterfinal match, which was auctioned in 2022.
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