Where Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Ball Ranks in Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia Ever
The soccer ball with which Diego Maradona scored two of the most famous goals in the long history of the game has been sold at auction for $3.35 million, falling some way short of its valuation and the record for sports memorabilia.
Heritage Auctions boasted that the adidas Azteca ball used in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England was “the most famous ball in the history” of any sport, predicting a swollen return of $10 million.
Yet, a failure to capitalize upon the hype of this summer’s World Cup, which ended with Argentina’s acrimonious defeat to Spain more than a month before the auction had concluded, saw the physical embodiment of Maradona’s genius underwhelm.
The history behind the ball helps explain the optimism.
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Maradona put together one of the greatest individual performances soccer has ever seen on the grand, global stage 40 years ago. The first of his two strikes which sent Argentina into the semifinals was dubbed the ‘Hand of God’ by the man himself after he leapt above England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to punch Argentina into a 1–0 lead in the 51st minute. “B------- was it the ‘Hand of God,’ Maradona would reflect in his autobiography years later. “It was the hand of Diego! And it felt a little bit like pickpocketing the English.”
The second goal Maradona scored with the same ball four minutes later is held in even higher esteem. The “cosmic kite,” as Uruguayan commentator Víctor Hugo Morales would memorably call him during his radio coverage of the goal, weaved his way through half the England team before rounding Shilton and poking that precious orb into an empty net.
Magical Maradona! 🤩#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/bymBCYbT1h
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 30, 2024
“It is a dream goal,” Maradona reflected. “When I was in Fiorito I used to dream of scoring a goal like that on the little makeshift pitch, for Estrella Roja, and I did it in a World Cup, for my country.”
Yet, when forced into a comparison, he would admit: “Sometimes I think I almost enjoyed that one more, the first one.”
The ball in question saw both goals scored but still couldn’t command the expected sum. In fact, it was a fraction of the price of Maradona’s shirt from that very match.
Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia Ever Sold
The referee who failed to spot Maradona’s hand ball rewarded himself with the object in question. The Tunisian official Ali Bin Nasser hung onto the ball before selling it to Graham Budd Auctions for $2.37 million in 2022. The $3.35 million which it was able to inspire is roughly a third of what it cost to buy Maradona’s jersey from the same match.
England’s Steve Hodge, the player whose erroneously back pass led to Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, infamously pocketed the iconic blue kit which the Argentine had been wearing. After holding out for 36 years, Hodge cashed in, commanding $9.3 million back in May 2022.
That remains the costliest piece of soccer memorabilia ever sold. Even six of Lionel Messi’s match-worn jerseys at the 2022 World Cup which Argentina won, including his kit for the semifinal and final, ‘only’ commanded $7.8 milloin in December 2023.
Rank | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
1. | 1932 Babe Ruth ‘Called Shot’ jersey | $24.1 million |
2. | 2007 Upper Deck Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant card | $12.9 million |
3. | 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card | $12.6 million |
4. | 1998 Michael Jordan NBA Finals Bulls jersey | $10.1 million |
5. | Diego Maradona ‘Hand of God’ Jersey | $9.3 million |
6. | Olympic Games manifesto | $8.8 million |
7. | Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup jerseys | $7.8 million |
8. | Honus Wagner T-206 Baseball card | $7.25 million |
9. | 1914 Babe Ruth rookie card | $7.2 million |
10. | Kobe Bryant 1996–97 Lakers jersey | $7 million |
Data via Sportico.
Four different items from the world of dominant North American sports have exceeded the $10 million threshold. Trading cards in baseball and basketball have both commanded obsence fees but nothing can come close to the $24.1 million which Babe Ruth’s jersey from 1932 inspired.
Much like Maradona’s memorabilia, it was the antics of Ruth which created so much value. The legendary batter for the New York Yankees was goaded by fans of the Chicago Cubs during Game 3 of the World Series at Wrigley Field. Legend has it that Ruth predicted his home run before sending a the next pitch 490 feet toward the center field flagpole.
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