The ball used by Diego Maradona to score two of the most famous goals in football history is to go on auction.
The match ball from the famous World Cup match between England and Argentina in the quarterfinals in 1986 is worth between £2.5 million and £3 million.
The Tunisian referee who permitted Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal during the match, Ali Bin Nasser, is the one who is selling it.
According to Bin Nasser, it is appropriate to share this ball with the world since it is a part of football history.
The game, now remembered as one of the most critical and contentious matches in World Cup history, lasted 90 minutes with the ball in play.
Maradona scored the game’s first goal by smashing the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
The player afterward referred to the goal as being “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God” when Bin Nasser failed to see the handball and allowed it to stand.
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The second goal Maradona scored in the game, which he slid past five England outfield players to beat Shilton, has become renowned as the “goal of the century.”
Argentina finally went on to win the game 2-1 and the World Cup in Mexico.
On November 16, the ball will be auctioned off as part of a special World Cup event. Then, beginning on October 28, interested purchasers may submit their bids online while it is being aired live.
According to Graham Budd, chairman of Graham Budd Auctions, “the timing of the match, the history between the two sides, and the handball have all contributed to this encounter going down as one of the most renowned and passionate events in football history.”
“Given the history of the ball, we anticipate this property to be very well received when it is put up for auction.”
Sports memorabilia has lately set records at auction for several things. A new world record was set in May when the jersey Maradona wore in the quarterfinal of 1986 was sold for $9.3 million (£7.4 million).
Three months later, a Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for $12.6 million (£10.3 million), breaking the previous record.
A new world record for any “game worn” sports item was set in September when Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA finals jersey sold for $10.1 (£8.7m).