On August 23, the infamous ball used in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England - where Diego Maradona created the "Hand of God" moment - was sold for $3.35 million at Heritage Auctions in Texas.
On August 23, the infamous ball used in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England - where Diego Maradona created the "Hand of God" moment - was sold for $3.35 million at Heritage Auctions in Texas.
August 26, 2026
The "Hand of God" is one of the most controversial moments in football history. It refers to the incident where Diego Maradona used his hand to score the opening goal during the tense 1986 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England. Although the English players immediately appealed for a handball, the referee decided to allow Maradona’s goal. Argentina ultimately won the match 2–1, and Maradona commented that he had scored with "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
Beyond the “Hand of God”, the ball being auctioned at Heritage Auctions is also associated with Maradona’s second goal - dubbed the "Goal of the Century." After the match ended, referee Ali Bin Nasser kept the ball and held onto it for more than three decades before selling it in 2022 for $2.37 million. The following year, the ball was put up for auction via Goldin Auctions, reaching a final bid of $2.04 million. However, the sale did not go through because the price failed to meet the minimum reserve price.
Associated with a legendary player and two goals that left an indelible mark on football history, it came as no surprise that this “Hand of God” ball was valued at $10 million ahead of the Heritage Auctions sale. Yet the hammer went down at $3.35 million, well below expectations. Therefore, the ball did not become the most expensive sports ball, as the record is currently held by Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home-run ball, which sold for $4.39 million (including the buyer's premium). This price is also significantly lower than that of the jersey Maradona wore in that same match, which fetched $9.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2022.
This indicates that the market for sports memorabilia continues to favor match-worn apparel over other types of game-used equipment, even when both originate from the same match or iconic moment. Although the market has valued the “Hand of God” ball at $3.35 million, the two goals - along with the acclaim and controversy surrounding them - will remain a memorable milestone in Diego Maradona's illustrious career.
