The Ball From THAT Maradona 'Hand Of God' Goal Just Sold For £2.5m — And It's Worth Less Than His Shirt 👀⚽

Stop everything, because one of the most infamous objects in sports history just changed hands — and the price might surprise you.

The actual football that Diego Maradona punched past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final has sold at auction for £2.5 million. Yes, THAT ball. The "Hand of God" ball. The ball that witnessed football's most controversial goal.

According to BBC Sport, the ball sold at Heritage Auctions in the United States on Saturday — but here's the twist: it was expected to fetch closer to £7.3m ($10m). Ouch.

The Tea ☕

• The ball from Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal sold for £2.5m at auction
• It sold for WAY less than expected (they thought it would go for £7.3m)
• The SHIRT Maradona wore in the same match sold for £7.1m in 2022
• Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser kept the ball for more than 30 years before selling it

But Wait, There's Drama

Here's what makes this even wilder: Maradona's shirt from the exact same match sold for £7.1 million back in 2022. So the shirt is worth almost THREE TIMES more than the ball that was literally at the center of one of football's most talked-about moments. Make it make sense! 🤯

The ball was kept by Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian referee who famously didn't spot Maradona's handball during Argentina's 2-1 victory over England. He held onto it for more than three decades before first selling it in 2022 for £1.74m.

The new owner tried to auction it again in 2023, but it didn't sell because bids didn't meet the minimum value. Now it's finally found a buyer — even if the price tag is a bit... underwhelming?

"A Little With The Hand Of God"

If you need a refresher on the sheer AUDACITY of that moment: Maradona literally punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the 51st minute. The goal stood. Argentina won the quarter-final.

After the match, Maradona gave reporters one of the most iconic quotes in sports history, saying the goal had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." The NERVE. The CHEEK. We have to stan the confidence, honestly.

But here's the thing — just four minutes later, Maradona scored what became known as the "goal of the century" in the same game, dribbling past FIVE England outfield players before slotting it past Shilton. So he really gave us the full range that day: controversy AND brilliance.

Is It Really The Only One?

Mike Provenzale, a specialist auctioneer at Heritage, told Reuters before the auction: "It's a true one-of-one item. Arguably the most significant soccer item that exists."

And it's been authenticated, don't worry. In 2023, referee Ali Bin Nasser signed a letter confirming it was the only ball used during the entire match. Independent experts backed that up too.

The Adidas Azteca ball is literally a piece of World Cup history — even if its sale price suggests the market thinks the shirt is the real MVP here.

The Price Tag Debate

So why didn't it sell for more? Maybe buyers thought £2.5m was already too much for a ball that represents, let's be honest, cheating. Or maybe the shirt is just that iconic because Maradona actually wore it.

Either way, someone out there now owns the football that was at the center of one of the most debated moments in sports — and they paid £2.5 million for the privilege.

England fans, how are we feeling? Still mad about the handball 40 years later, or is it time to let it go? Sound off below. 👇

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Sources:

• BBC Sport - Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m