The soccer ball Diego Maradona used to score both his infamous “Hand of God” goal and the celebrated “Goal of the Century” carries a $10 million-and-up estimate as Dallas-based Heritage Auctions prepares to sell it next month.
The Adidas Azteca ball had drawn a $2.5 million bid as of Wednesday, according to the auction house’s online catalog. Heritage will offer the ball during its August 21-23 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. Winning bids are subject to a 22% buyer’s premium.
Soccer’s most famous four minutes
Maradona used the ball for two goals four minutes apart during Argentina’s 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over England in Mexico City on June 22, 1986. The match came four years after the two countries fought the Falkland Islands War.
In the 51st minute, the 5-foot-5 Maradona rose against 6-foot-1 English goalkeeper Peter Shilton and used his left fist to send the ball into the net. English players immediately protested, but Tunisian referee Ali Bennaceur allowed the goal. With no video review available, the score stood.
Maradona later said the goal came “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” The quip became the lasting name for one of the most controversial goals in World Cup history.
Four minutes later, Maradona collected the ball in his own half, beat five English defenders during a 60-yard run and scored past Shilton. FIFA voters later selected the play as the World Cup’s “Goal of the Century.” It proved to be the game-winner after Gary Lineker cut Argentina’s lead to 2-1 in the 85th minute.
Argentina later defeated Belgium in the semifinal and West Germany in the final to win the World Cup.
Bennaceur kept the match ball in Tunisia for more than three decades and supplied a signed 2023 provenance letter, according to Heritage’s catalog. Two authentication services separately matched visible marks on the ball to photographs from the quarterfinal, including images from both goals.
Heritage cited the $9.2 million sale of Maradona’s jersey from the same match in 2022 as a benchmark for interest in the ball.
“Their disappointment was legitimate, but it does nothing to take away from two of the most spectacular goals in the history of the sport,” Heritage sports auctions director Chris Ivy said in a release.
More multimillion-dollar sports history
The auction also features one of three known Piedmont-backed Honus Wagner T206 cards. Heritage estimates the card at $4 million or more, and bidding had reached $2.45 million as of Wednesday. A 1958 letter accompanying the card offered its owner $25 for it.
A 1937 Lou Gehrig jersey carries a $3 million-and-up estimate and an $800,000 current bid. Heritage says researchers matched the jersey to the 1937 regular season, Game 2 of the World Series and spring training in 1938.
A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 8, carries a $2 million-and-up estimate and had reached $887,500.
World Cup surge reaches Dallas auction
Heritage said the 2026 World Cup helped drive renewed interest in soccer memorabilia. Dallas Stadium in Arlington hosted nine tournament matches, more than any other venue, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Other soccer lots include an early Maradona card, a signed Pelé card and collectibles tied to Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.
The wider auction includes a Michael Jordan autographed card, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s final regular-season scoring ball, one-of-one rookie cards tied to Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes, a Hulk Hogan championship belt and equipment connected to golfer Ben Hogan.
Bidding runs August 21-23 through Heritage Auctions, which is headquartered in Dallas.
Provided by Dallas Express
