Maradona's most discussed ball ever goes under the hammer

It is a ball that millions of football fans have an opinion about. Some see it as the symbol of the greatest football controversy ever, while others immediately think of perhaps the most beautiful goal of all time. The fact is that the ball with which Diego Maradona made history in 1986 will soon go under the hammer.

That Diego Maradona was one of the greatest footballers of all time is beyond dispute for many. During the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, the Argentinian made history in just four minutes with two goals that remain among the most talked about in the football world. And it is precisely that ball that is now back in the spotlight.

Heritage Auctions is putting the iconic Adidas Azteca under the hammer on August 22 during the Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. According to the American auction house, the ball could fetch more than 10 million dollars. This would make it the most expensive piece of football memorabilia ever sold.

The story behind the ball is at least as remarkable as the expected outcome. In the 51st minute, the 1,65-meter-tall Maradona jumped higher than the much taller English goalkeeper Peter Shilton and worked the ball into the net with his left hand. The referee did not see the foul, so the goal stood. Afterwards, Maradona uttered the now world-famous words: “A little bit with Maradona’s head and a little bit with the hand of God.”

Four minutes later, a moment followed that garnered universal admiration. Maradona began his run just past the halfway line, weaved past five English players, and calmly slotted the ball home. FIFA later declared the solo the 'Goal of the Century'. Remarkably, all of this happened with the same ball that is now being auctioned.

After the match, the ball came into the hands of referee Ali Bin Nasser. According to the FIFA rules of the time, the match ball became the property of the arbiter. Bin Nasser kept the relic for decades and sold it in 2022 via a British auction for around 2 million pounds. Four years later, its value appears to have risen explosively. Thanks to the growing market for sports memorabilia and the enduring fascination with Maradona, experts now expect a yield of well over 10 million dollars.

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The auction, however, is not solely about Maradona. Special collectibles from Pelé, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, among others, are also being offered. Yet, all attention will be focused primarily on that one football. For rarely does a simple piece of leather reveal so much about a sporting moment that still captivates the world nearly forty years later.