Maradona's 1986 'Hand of God' World Cup ball heads to auction

Heritage Auctions announced that the match ball used by Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter‑final against England – the ball that featured Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal – will be put up for sale with a US$2.5 million opening bid. The auction house described the item as the “holy grail” of football memorabilia and suggested it could fetch a price comparable to the US$9.2 million paid for Maradona’s shirt from the same match in 2022. Market experts said the growing appetite for soccer collectibles, boosted by the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, could push the final price into the tens of millions. The ball’s historic significance, combined with a broader surge in sports‑related trading‑cards and memorabilia, has attracted collectors worldwide, positioning the sale as a landmark event in the sports‑collectibles market.