Ball used to score ‘Hand of God’ goal by Maradona up for sale

The ball with which Diego Maradona scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986. Pic/AFP

The ball that Diego Maradona used to score his infamous "Hand of God" goal in Argentina's 2-1 win over England in the 1986 World Cup last four is expected to sell for $10 million (approx Rs 95 crore) at a US auction this month.

The late great Maradona's goal at the Estadio Azteca saw him punch the ball past the England goalkeeper, before declaring after the match that his goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." La Albiceleste went on to win the World Cup that year.

Heritage Auctions, based in Texas, expects the ball will sell for eight figures when it goes under the hammer from August 21 to 23, with a $2.5 million (approx Rs 23.8 crore) opening bid. "I think it's easily the most historic ball in the realm of football," said Dan Imler, vice president of sports at Heritage Auctions.

He noted it is also the ball that Maradona used, in the same match, to score the so-called "Goal of the Century" in which he dribbled past several English defenders before finishing past the goalkeeper.

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