October 13, (THEWILL) – The match ball that Argentine legend Diego Maradona used to score two of the most illustrious goals in football history is set to be put up for auction.
The ball from that memorable 1986 World Cup quarter-final encounter between England and Argentina is valued at between £2.5 million and £3 million.
Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian official who permitted Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal during the match, is the one putting it up for sale. Speaking about his decision to do this, Bin Nasser said: “This ball is part of football history – it is the right time to be sharing it with the world.”
The game, which is now remembered as one of the most significant and divisive matches in World Cup history, featured this ball for the entire 90 minutes. The excitement opened when Maradona cunningly beat England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score the game’s first goal without the notice of Bin Nasser and he later referred to the goal as being “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
The second goal Maradona scored in the game after he slid past five England outfield players to beat Shilton, has come to be renowned as the “goal of the century.” It has been reproduced by his countryman Lionel Messi at club level against Getafe.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
