Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup ball from the match against England sells for $3.35 million

The ball behind Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” finds a new owner

Few objects in sporting history have witnessed moments so different yet equally unforgettable. Within just four minutes, the same ball was involved in a controversial goal and one of the greatest individual goals football has ever seen. Diego Maradona was at the heart of both moments during Argentina’s match against England at the 1986 World Cup.

Four decades later, the ball used in that historic encounter continues to attract the attention of collectors. It was recently sold through the American auction house Heritage Auctions for $3.35 million, equivalent to approximately €2.8 million.

The identity of its new owner has not been disclosed, leaving the destination of one of football’s most famous artefacts a mystery, at least for now.

The day an ordinary ball entered football history

On 22 June 1986, Argentina and England met in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico. The match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca would become famous for the two goals scored by Diego Maradona.

The first entered football folklore as the “Hand of God.” The Argentine forward jumped to challenge for a high ball but directed it into the net with his left hand. Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser failed to spot the infringement and allowed the goal to stand.

After the match, Maradona described the incident with a phrase that would travel around the world and forever define that moment. He said the goal had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

England’s players protested, but the decision was not overturned. That refereeing error helped transform the ball into a collector’s item with extraordinary historical significance.

Four minutes later, Diego Maradona produced a masterpiece

Shortly after opening the scoring, Maradona produced a moment of pure brilliance that would leave an equally lasting mark on football history.

The Argentine collected the ball inside his own half, dribbled past several opponents and completed his run with a finish that left the world speechless. The strike became known as the “Goal of the Century.”

Within a matter of minutes, the same ball had been involved in both a controversial incident and a goal widely regarded as the ultimate expression of individual brilliance. The connection between those two moments made it a unique piece of World Cup history.

Argentina defeated England and went on to win the 1986 World Cup. For Maradona, the tournament in Mexico represented one of the defining achievements of his career and cemented his status as a footballing legend.

Referee Ali Bin Nasser kept the ball for decades

After the match at Estadio Azteca, the ball came into the possession of Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser. He kept it at his home for approximately three decades.

The referee’s connection to the ball is inseparable from the story of the opening goal. Had Ali Bin Nasser spotted Maradona’s handball and disallowed the goal, the ball would not have carried the same symbolic importance.

In 2022, the referee decided to sell the collector’s item. It changed hands for approximately $2.37 million, underlining the enormous demand for memorabilia associated with Argentina’s former captain.

The ball was offered at auction again a year later but failed to sell. None of the bidders met the reserve price set by the owner.

The final price fell short of expectations

The latest auction was organised by Heritage Auctions approximately one month after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.

Bidding opened at $2.5 million. The organisers hoped that interest in the ball would push its price towards the amount paid for the shirt Maradona wore during the same match.

The Argentine’s shirt had sold for $9.3 million in 2022. By comparison, the winning bid for the ball reached $3.35 million, well below the figure anticipated by those involved in the auction.

Nevertheless, the latest sale price exceeded the amount paid in 2022, when Ali Bin Nasser parted with the object he had kept for decades.

Compared with the sums involved in modern football, the ball’s value may appear surprisingly modest. Approximately €2.8 million is less than many routine transfer fees, despite the ball’s extraordinary place in football history.

The mystery buyer fuels a Neapolitan dream

Heritage Auctions has not revealed the identity of the winning bidder. That secrecy has encouraged speculation about where the ball associated with Maradona’s most famous goals might eventually end up.

One possibility capturing the imagination of supporters is Naples, the city where the former Argentina international transcended his status as a great footballer and became a symbol of local identity.

One name linked to the speculation is Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who frequently travels to the United States. However, there is no evidence that he purchased the ball.

For Maradona’s admirers, displaying it in Naples would carry special significance. The city continues to honour the Argentine through murals, photographs, memorabilia and the stadium that bears his name.

Wherever it ultimately ends up, the ball used in the match between Argentina and England remains forever linked to two moments that changed football history. One generated controversy, while the other became a masterpiece. Together, they transformed an ordinary ball into a treasured relic of the most captivating chapter in Diego Maradona’s career.