The ball Diego Maradona used to score his controversial "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold for $3.35 million, about 2.9 million euros, at a sale held by Heritage Auctions in the United States.
The sale did not reach the figures many had expected. The auction opened with a base price of $2.5 million, and bidding had been forecast to break records and climb as high as $10 million.
Maradona scored the goal in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, in a match Argentina won 2-1. The Argentine forward punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, and Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser did not spot the infringement, to the fury of the England players.
Maradona, who is regarded by many as the greatest footballer in history and died in 2020 at the age of 60, later said the goal was scored a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.
Argentina's run to the title
In the same match, Maradona scored what is widely considered the greatest goal in World Cup history, dribbling past half the England team to make it 2-0.
England pulled a goal back in the 81st minute through Gary Lineker, who finished the tournament as its top scorer with six goals. Argentina went on to win the World Cup, beating West Germany 3-2 in the final.
Previous Maradona memorabilia sales
Maradona items have fetched large sums at auction before. In 2022, the number 10 shirt he wore in the England match sold for more than 8 million euros.
Legal proceedings over Maradona's death
Maradona's 2020 death has continued to generate legal fallout in Argentina. Reports have said he showed signs of heart failure in the days before he died, and his personal secretary has said the Argentine idol was in free fall in his final period.
Maradona's daughter has accused the doctors who treated her father of total and horrible manipulation.
One of the doctors involved in his care has told a court he is innocent over Maradona's death.
