The jersey worn by Diego Maradona when he made the infamous “Hand of God” goal versus England in the 1986 World Cup has sold for 7.1 million pounds ($9.3 million). The maximum bid yet received at auctioned for a piece of sports memorabilia. Sotheby’s auctioned off the garment in an online sale that ended on Wednesday. It did not name the buyer.
Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt sets auction record
Maradona scored two goals in a quarter-final game in Mexico City on June 22, 1986, exactly four years following Britain and Argentina decided to go to war over the Falkland Islands. The Argentine legend’s first goal was judge a header. Although the ball had rebounded off Maradona’s fist, out of sight of the referee.
Maradona later stated that it was scored “a bit with Maradona’s head, and a little with God’s hand.”
Maradona made his second goal after dribbling past practically the whole English squad and beating goalie Peter Shilton. In a FIFA survey in 2002, it was chosen “goal of the century.”
Argentina won the World Cup after winning the game 2-1.
Just after game, Maradona exchanged jerseys with England player Steve Hodge. He leased it to England’s National Football Museum in Manchester for a long time before selling it.
About Diego Maradona
Maradona, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, suffered with cocaine addiction. And other vices until passing away in November 2020 at the age of 60.
When Sotheby’s announced the upcoming auction last month, Maradona’s relatives voiced concern that the blue No. 10 jersey he wore in the second half of the game, when he scored both goals, was the one he wore. According to the auction company, the identity of the garment was establish by sports memorabilia photo-matching business Resolution Photomatching. And validated by Sotheby’s chief science officer.
Sotheby’s director of streetwear and modern collectibles, Brahm Wachter, described the shirt as “a tactile remembrance of a momentous event not just in sports history. But in the history of the twentieth century.”
The longest streak for sports memorabilia was $8.8 million, which was bought at a December 2019 auction for the manifesto that began the modern Olympic movement. The previous record for a piece of apparel was $5.64 million in 2019 for a Babe Ruth New York Yankees jersey.
The auction house charge known as the buyer’s premium is involve in the sale prices.