Maradona's 'Hand Of God' Jersey Auctioned For $9.3 Million: Sotheby's

The jersey worn by Diego Maradona while scoring his 2 goals vs England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous "hand of God", was auctioned for $9.3 million, according to Sotheby's, as per AFP.

Seven bidders bid for the jersey from April 20 and it finally ended on May 4.

"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," said Sotheby's head of streetwear and modern collectibles Brahm Wachter.

"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 added.

The jersey was owned by former English footballer Steve Hodge, who swapped his jersey with Maradona after the game.

FIFA

Hodge's autobiography is "The man with Maradona's shirt." For the last 2 decades, he has loaned the jersey to be on public display at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

The quarter-final in 1986 became a classic thanks to 2 goals by Maradona.

AFP

The first one was just after half-time when Hodge, who was at the edge of the England penalty area, intercepted a pass and flicked the ball to his own keeper.

Maradona ran into the box and jumped with Peter Shilton and punched the ball into the back of the net. He later said it was scored "a little with the head of Maradona, a little with the hand of God."

Not much later, he went past 5 English defenders to score what would be known as the "Goal of the Century" in a 2002 FIFA poll.

Argentina won and Maradona became a God in his homeland.

Maradona's daughter was doubtful about the sale alleging that the shirt was the one he wore in the goalless first half, not the second where he scored twice.

"This former player thinks he has my dad's second-half jersey, but it's a mix-up. He has the one from the first half," said Dalma, his daughter.

However, Sotheby's insisted it was the right shirt.

"There was indeed a different shirt worn by Maradona in the first half, but there are clear differences between that and what was worn during the goals," a spokeswoman told AFP.

"And so, prior to putting this shirt for sale, we did extensive diligence and scientific research on the item to make sure it was the shirt worn by Maradona in the second half for the two goals," she added.

Sotheby's maintained that Maradona himself had acknowledged that it was his shirt in his book "Touched by God," and remembers swapping with Hodge after the game.