Diego Maradona, "Hand of God"
Diego Maradona

NEW YORK — The soccer ball Diego Maradona used to score two of the most famous goals in World Cup history — including the infamous "Hand of God" goal — is heading to auction this month, with Dallas-based Heritage Auctions estimating it could sell for $10 million or more.

The ball, an Adidas Azteca model, will go under the hammer during Heritage's Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, running Aug. 21-23. Bidding had already reached $2.5 million as of early last week, according to the auction house's online catalog, with a 22% buyer's premium applied to any winning bid.

A goal that changed soccer history

Maradona used the ball to score twice within four minutes of each other during Argentina's 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over England at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 22, 1986. The match, one of the most politically charged in tournament history, came four years after Argentina and England fought the Falklands War.

In the 51st minute, the 5-foot-5 Maradona rose above 6-foot-1 England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and used his left fist to punch the ball into the net — a foul the referee missed, allowing the goal to stand. After the match, Maradona famously described the play, saying his goal was scored, "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."

Four minutes later, Maradona used the same ball to score what would later be voted the "Goal of the Century" in a 2002 FIFA poll, dribbling past five English defenders and Shilton before slotting the ball into the net. Argentina went on to win the tournament, defeating West Germany in the final.

From a referee's private collection to a record-setting sale

The ball's ownership history adds another layer to its story. It was previously owned by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the 1986 match and held onto the ball for decades afterward. Bin Nasser sold the ball at a UK auction in November 2022 through Graham Budd Auctions, where it fetched roughly $2.4 million — well below the up to $3.6 million some had projected at the time.

That 2022 sale came just months after the jersey Maradona wore during the same match — which belonged to England midfielder Steve Hodge, who traded shirts with Maradona after the game — sold at Sotheby's for a record-breaking $9.3 million, more than double what had been predicted.

Heritage Auctions is now pointing to that jersey sale as a benchmark for how much interest the ball itself could draw this time around. "I think it's easily the most historic ball in the realm of soccer," Dan Imler, the auction house's vice president of sports, told AFP.

Renewed interest tied to the 2026 World Cup

Heritage Auctions has said this year's World Cup, hosted jointly across North America, helped drive renewed demand for soccer memorabilia ahead of the sale. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hosted nine tournament matches, more than any other venue used during the 2026 World Cup.

The Maradona ball won't be the only soccer item up for bid. The same Heritage sale includes an early Maradona trading card, a signed Pelé card, and memorabilia connected to current stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. Beyond soccer, the broader Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction features a wide range of high-profile sports collectibles, including an autographed Michael Jordan card, the ball from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's final regular-season NBA scoring play, one-of-one rookie cards tied to Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes, a Hulk Hogan championship belt, and equipment connected to golfer Ben Hogan.

Maradona's enduring legacy

Maradona, widely regarded alongside Brazil's Pelé as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, wore the number 10 jersey throughout his storied career with Argentina, Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors. He died of cardiac arrest on Nov. 25, 2020, at age 60, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the sport and a period of national mourning in Argentina.

Nearly six years after his death, memorabilia tied to his career continues to command extraordinary prices at auction, driven both by his outsized cultural significance in Argentina and the singular controversy of the "Hand of God" goal, which remains one of the most replayed and debated moments in World Cup history.

Heritage Auctions has not disclosed the identity of the current seller offering the ball for this month's sale. Bidding will remain open through the close of the Aug. 21-23 auction window, with the final sale price to be determined by competitive bidding beyond the current $10 million estimate.

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