Maradona's Hand of God Ball Sold for €2.9 Million at Auction
The ball that Diego Maradona used to score his infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup was sold for $3.35 million (€2.9 million).
The Adidas Azteca ball was auctioned by Heritage Auctions in Texas, but the final price was significantly lower than the pre-auction estimate of $10 million (€8.6 million).
Auctioneer Mike Provenzale described the ball as a "truly unique item" and "possibly the most significant football artifact in existence".
The Most Controversial Goal in Football History
Maradona, who passed away in 2020, scored this controversial goal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, where Argentina faced England at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. What initially appeared to be a header was revealed in slow motion to be a punch: Maradona used his hand to lift the ball over English goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
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Referee Ali Ben Nasser, who once owned the ball, did not see the handball and allowed the goal. He later recounted, "I looked at the linesman to confirm the decision — he went to the center of the field, indicating he agreed with the goal." Maradona famously said he scored the goal "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God", later admitting he intentionally handled the ball, calling it a symbolic "revenge" against Britain for Argentina's defeat in the Falklands War in 1982.
Just four minutes after the 'Hand of God' goal, Maradona scored again — this time without divine intervention. Receiving the ball in his own half, he dribbled past nearly the entire England team and scored a goal later recognized by FIFA as the 'Goal of the Century'.
Argentina won that match 2-1 and ultimately secured their second World Cup title.
The Adidas Azteca ball was first auctioned in 2022, with bids reaching $2.37 million (€2 million), but the reserve price was not met. In 2023, it was attempted to be sold again at auction, but no buyer was found.
This current sale is also significantly lower than the $9.3 million (€8 million) paid in 2022 for Maradona's shirt from the same match, which became the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold at auction.
The ball did not reach the record for the most expensive sports ball, which still belongs to a baseball used by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to hit his 50th home run; it was sold for $4.39 million (€3.8 million) in 2025.
