London, Jun 26 (V7N)- The match ball used during the historic 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England—when Argentine legend Diego Maradona scored the famous "Hand of God" goal—is set to go under the hammer at auction.
Auction house Heritage Auctions has listed the iconic football with a starting price of US$2.5 million, equivalent to approximately Tk 310 million.
The company described the ball as the "Holy Grail" of football memorabilia, saying it is one of the most coveted collectibles in the sport's history. Heritage Auctions expects the ball to attract significant interest from collectors worldwide, potentially surpassing expectations.
The auction house drew comparisons with Maradona's match-worn jersey from the same 1986 quarter-final, which sold for US$9.3 million in 2022, setting a record for football memorabilia at the time.
Mike Provenzale, a sports memorabilia expert at Heritage Auctions, called the ball a truly unique piece of football history.
"This ball is a truly unique souvenir. There is no other collectible quite like it in the history of football," he said.
However, Provenzale declined to predict the ball's final selling price, saying its historical significance could drive intense bidding among collectors.
The 1986 World Cup quarter-final remains one of the most memorable matches in football history. Diego Maradona scored two legendary goals against England in the match. The first, known as the "Hand of God," sparked controversy after appearing to involve a handball, while the second saw Maradona dribble past multiple defenders before scoring—a strike later immortalized as the "Goal of the Century."
Argentina went on to win the 1986 FIFA World Cup, with Maradona widely regarded as the tournament's standout player.
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