The football used during Diego Maradona's iconic "Hand of God" goal at the 1986 World Cup has been sold for $3.3 million.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Adidas Azteca ball was purchased at an auction held by the US-based Heritage Auctions for the final price of $3.3 million.
The ball was retained by the match's referee, Ali Bin Nasser of Tunisia, who kept it in his possession for over 30 years. In 2023, he provided official documentation confirming that the ball was indeed the one used during the historic quarter-final match between Argentina and England.
The item previously sold for $2.37 million in 2022. Although it was put up for auction again the following year, the sale did not proceed as the bids failed to meet the reserve price. The 1986 match remains one of the most significant events in football history, as Maradona scored both goals in Argentina's 2-1 victory, with the first becoming known as the "Hand of God" and the second famously dubbed the "Goal of the Century."
