The Ball Used in Maradona's 'Hand of God' Goal is Up for Auction

The ball used in Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup is going up for auction with a starting price of $2.5 million. The auction house, Heritage Auctions, expects the ball to sell for around $9.2 million.The ball, considered a 'holy grail' among collectors, was used in the quarter-final match between Argentina and England in 1986. The same match saw Maradona's jersey sell for $9.2 million in an auction in 2022, setting a record. Mike Provenzale, an expert at Heritage Auctions, described the ball as a 'unique piece' and 'probably the most important football memorabilia item'.The auction comes at a time when interest in football-themed collectibles is on the rise. Experts point to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, as a factor driving this interest. The sports collectibles market has traditionally been dominated by American sports like basketball, baseball, American football, and ice hockey, but there has been a significant increase in demand for football-related items in recent years. Notably, collectible cards featuring top players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe have reached record values.