The football used in one of the most controversial and celebrated moments in World Cup history has sold at auction for $3.35 million. The ball, which Diego Maradona used to score his infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, fetched the record sum, underscoring the enduring global fascination with the Argentine football legend.
The goal in question was scored during the quarter-final match between Argentina and England on 22 June 1986 in Mexico City. Maradona punched the ball into the net with his left hand — a clear foul that went undetected by the referee — before famously describing the goal as having been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The phrase entered sporting folklore and gave the goal its legendary nickname. Just four minutes later, Maradona produced what is widely regarded as the greatest individual goal ever scored, dribbling past five English defenders before slotting the ball home — a strike later dubbed the 'Goal of the Century.' Argentina won the match 2–1 and went on to claim the World Cup title.
The 1986 tournament in Mexico holds particular emotional weight for Argentines, coming just four years after the Falklands War — a brief but bitter armed conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over a group of South Atlantic islands. For many in Argentina, Maradona's goals against England carried meaning well beyond sport. Maradona himself did little to dispel that interpretation.
The sale of the ball highlights the extraordinary market for football memorabilia tied to Maradona, who died in November 2020 at the age of 60. Items linked to the Buenos Aires-born forward have consistently commanded premium prices at auction, reflecting both his stature as arguably the greatest player of his generation and the mythological status of specific moments from his career.
For collectors and football historians alike, the 'Hand of God' ball represents a singular artefact — a physical object present at a moment that blurred the lines between genius, controversy, and sporting mythology. Its sale for $3.35 million places it among the most valuable pieces of football history ever to change hands.