The soccer ball from Diego Maradona's legendary 1986 World Cup quarterfinal has sold for $3.35 million at Heritage Auctions in Texas, landing well below its $10 million estimate.
The Adidas Azteca ball was used in the match against England in Mexico City, where Maradona scored the famous "Hand of God" goal. What first looked like a header was later shown in slow motion to involve a hand touch, while the referee did not spot the infringement. Maradona later described the moment as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
Heritage said the ball's authenticity was confirmed through photo matching, with experts comparing visible marks and design details against match images and other 1986 World Cup balls. Auctioneer Mike Provenzale called it one of the most iconic sports objects ever offered.
The result falls below the $9.3 million paid for Maradona's shirt from the same match in 2022, and also under the current record for a sports ball, set by Shohei Ohtani's 50th home-run ball at $4.39 million. Still, the sale reinforces how historic sports artifacts continue to attract global attention and long-term cultural value. In the future, such pieces may play an even bigger role in preserving the memory of defining moments in sport.
