Official match ball from the 1986 Argentina vs England World Cup quarter-final to be auctioned

The Adidas Azteca match ball from the June 22, 1986, World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England is set to be auctioned by Heritage Auctions. The starting bid for this item is set at 2.5 million dollars. This specific ball was used during the match where Diego Maradona scored two iconic goals: the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century." The game carried significant historical weight due to the recent Falklands War between the two nations. The ball previously belonged to the match referee, Ali Bin Nasser from Tunisia, who sold it in 2022 for 3.6 million dollars. Heritage Auctions expert Mike Provenzale noted that the item is unique and lacks direct market comparisons, though experts suggest it could potentially reach a value similar to the 9.2 million dollars paid for Maradona's jersey from the same match. The auction aims to capitalize on the artifact's status as one of the most significant pieces of football history.