Maradona's "Hand of God" soccer ball will be put up for auction
A soccer ball used by Diego Maradona to score one of the most famous goals in soccer history is set to go up for auction in the U.S. It is the legendary “Hand of God” goal from Argentina’s match against England at the 1986 World Cup. This historic item could fetch up to $10 million.
Heritage Auctions, a Texas-based auction house, will put the ball up for auction in August. The starting price for the lot will be $2.5 million, but organizers expect that during the auction, its value could rise to an eight-figure sum—around $10 million.
Dan Imler, vice president of sports at Heritage Auctions, called this item exceptional in the world of soccer. “I believe this is, without a doubt, the most historic ball in the world of soccer,” he said. It was with this very ball that Maradona scored two goals in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup against England. The match took place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
The first goal became one of the most talked-about in soccer history. Maradona beat England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and struck the ball with his hand. The referee allowed the goal, even though replays clearly showed the foul.
After the match, Maradona explained the incident with a phrase that later became legendary. “A little bit of Maradona’s head and a little bit of the Hand of God,” is how the player described his goal. It was after these words that the goal became known as the “Hand of God.”
That same ball was used to score another legendary goal
Interestingly, Maradona scored his second goal of the match with that same ball. He received a pass in his own half of the field, dribbled past several English defenders, and beat the goalkeeper. This moment is considered one of the greatest goals in soccer history. It is often called the “goal of the century.”
In the end, Argentina defeated England 2–1, and Maradona was the star of the match. That same year, the Argentine national team won the World Cup. Now, the historic ball, which was directly involved in two of Maradona’s goals, may end up in the hands of a private collector.
According to a representative from Heritage Auctions, it is precisely the connection to two of the most famous moments of that match that makes the lot particularly valuable. The auction will take place in the U.S. from August 21 to 23, 2026. The starting bid will be $2.5 million, and organizers expect the final price to reach around $10 million. This was reported by The Daily Telegraph, citing AFP.
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