1986 World Cup ball used by Diego Maradona to be auctioned

The football used during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England, famous for Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal, will be sold at auction. The Texas-based Heritage Auctions house has scheduled the bidding process to take place from August 21 to 23, 2026.

The item carries a starting price of 2.5 million dollars, though experts anticipate the final sale price could exceed 10 million dollars. The ball was previously in the possession of the match referee, Ali Bin Nasser. It is notable for being used for both the controversial "Hand of God" goal and Maradona's "Goal of the Century," in which he dribbled past several English defenders.

This specific ball previously appeared on the auction market in 2022 and 2023, but failed to sell as bids remained around the 2 million dollar mark. Given the historical significance of the match, analysts expect substantially higher interest during this upcoming session. The sale represents a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire a central artifact from one of the most iconic moments in international football history.