Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ jersey auctioned for world record $9.3m

The jersey put on by Argentina football legend Diego Maradona during the football match against England in the 1986 World Cup, which triggered the infamous “hand of God” goal, was auctioned for $9.3 million, what has been considered a world record.

According to reports, seven bidders have shown interests in the jersey in an auction that started on April 20 and ended Wednesday morning.

“This historic shirt is a tangible reminder of an important moment not only in the history of sports, but in the history of the 20th century,” Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles Brahm Wachter said in a statement after the sale.

“This is arguably the most coveted football shirt to ever come to auction, and so it is fitting that it now holds the auction record for any object of its kind,” he said.

The ownership of the jersey has been transferred to the opposing midfielder Steve Hodge, who swapped his jersey with Maradona after England lost 2-1.

Hodge, whose autobiography is titled “The man with Maradona’s shirt,” has however for the past two decades loaned the jersey to be publicly displayed at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

Recall that Maradona, was quoted to have said; that the goal had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona, a little with the hand of God.”