The iconic "hand of god" jersey worn by Diego Maradona when he scored the controversial goal against England in the 1986 World Cup was sold for a record $9.3 million and became the highest-priced sports memorabilia.
The athlete's shirt was sold by auctioneer Sotheby's during an online auction that closed on Wednesday and did not identify the buyer. The jersey was worn by Maradona when he scored two goals during the quarter-final game in Mexico City on June 22, 1986.
$9.3 Million "Hand of God" Jersey
The Argentine player's first goal was ruled as a header but the ball actually bounced off of his fist first, a sight that the referee was not able to observe. After the game, Maradona said that the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God."
The player's second goal saw him dribble past almost the entire English team before beating goalkeeper Peter Shilton in a face-off. A FIFA poll conducted in 2002 voted the controversial goal as the "goal of the century," as per the Associated Press.
After Argentina won against England, Maradona swapped shirts with the enemy team's midfielder, Steve Hodge, who loaned it long-term to England's National Football Museum in Manchester. Maradona, who was considered to be the greatest player of all time, struggled with cocaine abuse in his later years and died in November 2020 at the age of 60.
The price of the Hand of God jersey surpassed its other high-priced sports item sales, including the $5.64 million paid for Babe Ruth's 1928-1930 New York Yankees jersey in 2019. Sotheby's announced that the iconic jersey was put up for auction on Apr. 6.
According to ESPN, Brahm Wachter, the head of Sotheby's streetwear and modern collectibles, said that the historic shirt was a tangible reminder of an important moment, not only in sports but in the 20th century. Sports fans and collectors alike have inundated the auctioneer with palpable excitement in the weeks since the announcement of the auction.
Valuable Sports Memorabilia
Hodge said that the iconic jersey had a deep cultural meaning in the world of football, the people of Argentina, and the people of England. He added that the new owner of the shirt would certainly hold immense pride in having possession of the most iconic football shirt.
An appraiser of pop culture merchandise, Leila Dunbar, said that the sale of the jersey was emblematic of the recent increase in the value of sports memorabilia. She said that since 2020, the increase in value was like nothing that she has ever seen in the last three decades that she has been in the business.
Maradona was known in the football world for his scrappiness and sudden bursts of virtuosity, two characteristics that were epitomized by his play in the second half of the 1986 match against England.
However, the authenticity of the jersey sold at the auction was questioned by Maradona's daughter, Dalma Maradona. A Sotheby spokeswoman responded by saying that the auction house conducted "extensive diligence and scientific research" to verify the authenticity of the jersey, the New York Times reported.
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