Maradona's Iconic Jersey Expected to Fetch Record-breaking $100M in US Auction

Argentina's late football legend Diego Maradona left an indelible mark on the world stage with his numerous brilliant and contentious performances, with one of the most iconic moments being his 1986 World Cup match against England. In that game, he scored two of the most discussed and shocking goals in football history, one of which was a handball that sparked widespread controversy. The ball from that historic match is now set to auction in the United States, with an estimated price tag of $10 million, which translates to approximately NT$3.2 billion, once again drawing the attention of global football fans and collectors.

The ball in question is the same "Hand of God" ball that Maradona used to punch into the goal, only to have it deemed valid by the referee. Reflecting on June 22, 1986, Argentina and England faced off at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico. As the game entered the second half's 6th minute, both teams were still tied, and Maradona attempted to head the ball in the penalty area. Despite being only 165 cm tall, Maradona managed to punch the ball into the net while England's goalkeeper, Shilton, was off his line. Although the English team protested the obvious foul, the referee and assistant referee failed to notice, and the goal was ultimately deemed valid. After the game, Maradona cleverly told reporters that "part of the ball was Maradona's head, and part of it was God's hand," giving birth to the term "Hand of God," which would become an eternal synonym for controversy in football history.

However, the beauty of that game lies not only in the contentious handball but also in Maradona's subsequent stunning display of skill. Just four minutes after the "Hand of God" goal, Maradona received a pass in his own half and embarked on an incredible solo run, beating five English defenders and calmly scoring the goal. This breathtaking performance, which was later voted as the "Greatest Goal in History" by FIFA, provided a striking contrast to the controversy surrounding the handball. Ultimately, Argentina won the game 2-1, advancing to the final and lifting the World Cup, cementing Maradona's status as a football legend and imbuing the ball with unparalleled value as a collector's item.

In recent years, the market for sports memorabilia has experienced rapid growth, leading to a sharp increase in the prices of top athletes' historical artifacts. The ball, which has been owned by the referee from that match, Nasser, a Tunisian, for years, has been released to the market. Initially auctioned off in 2022, just before the Qatar World Cup, the ball did not meet its expected price tag, despite generating significant attention. Now, it has been entrusted to an American auction house once again, with a price estimate of $10 million, still a high-end figure. For collectors worldwide, items featuring both controversy and legendary status are extremely rare, and with Maradona's passing in late 2020, all items related to his life and career have become extremely valuable, making it impossible to estimate their worth.

From a historical and cultural perspective, this ball has transcended its status as a simple sports artifact, carrying a deep emotional connection between Argentina and England, two countries that had just ended the Falklands War at that time. This World Cup match was imbued with intense political and social significance, with Maradona's double goal seeming to embody the sentiment of the Argentine people. The ball, set to be auctioned off in the United States this month, not only records the incredible talent and controversy of a football legend but also freezes the most dramatic afternoon in the history of 20th-century sports. Regardless of who ultimately buys the ball at a record price, it will continue to tell the story of that unrepeatable era in football history.