"I think it's easily the most historic ball in the realm of soccer." That's Heritage Auctions vice-president Dan Imler, and he's not wrong — the football from Diego Maradona's notorious Hand of God goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final is heading to auction later this month, with a $10 million price tag attached.
The auction runs August 21 to 23, with bids opening at $2.5 million. Heritage Auctions, based in Texas, expects it to clear eight figures before the hammer falls.
One ball, two of the greatest goals ever scored
What makes this particular piece of football history so loaded isn't just the Hand of God — it's what happened in the same match, with the same ball. Maradona also used it to score the Goal of the Century, a solo run through the English defense that still gets played on highlight reels nearly four decades later. You're not just buying the notoriety. You're buying the whole 1986 quarter-final wrapped in leather.
The game itself, played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, ended 2-1 to Argentina. Maradona punched the ball past the English goalkeeper in the 51st minute, then asked about it afterwards with a straight face: scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." Argentina went on to lift the World Cup.
For collectors, the crossover appeal here is enormous — football history, World Cup mythology, one of sport's most debated moments, and a player who became a cultural icon well beyond the pitch. That's not a recipe for a quiet auction room.
Opening bid: $2.5 million. Expected final price: $10 million. The auction starts August 21.
