Maradona’s 'Hand of God' football sells for £2.5m


The ball that carried Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter‑final is now in a new hands after selling for £2.5 million at a Heritage Auctions event in the United States.



Hand of God football on a display case
The 'Hand of God' football was showcased at Heritage Auctions.


Maradona famously nudged the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton in a 2-1 victory, famously describing the play as “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” That same match also produced the world‑wide celebrated “goal of the century.”


While the ball was projected to reach a price near £7.3 million, it closed at $3.3 million (£2.5 million). “It is a true one‑of‑one item. The most significant soccer item that exists,” said Mike Provenzale, the auctioneer who oversaw the sale.


The ball initially came into the hands of referee Tunisian Ali Bin Nasser, who collected it after the match and retained it for more than three decades. Bin Nasser sold it in 2022 for $2.37 million (£1.74 million); the ball had been put up again for auction in 2023 but did not meet the reserve price.


Maradona’s match shirt, likewise, sold for £7.1 million in 2022, further underscoring the era’s massive material value.


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