Collectible items associated with athletes and sports personalities, including jerseys and other pieces of equipment, are highly sought after by collectors, especially those linked to historic sporting moments. Enthusiasts are often willing to invest huge amounts to acquire these valuable artifacts.
Recently, the jersey worn by the legendary Diego Maradona during the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup sold for a world-record price at an auction in London, surpassing the previous record held by the late basketball and NBA icon Kobe Bryant.
Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey price
In the 1986 Mexico World Cup, fans witnessed one of the most controversial yet iconic moments in the Argentina-England quarterfinal match. Argentina’s number ten, the 25-year-old captain Diego Maradona, scored an opening goal by pushing the ball over the English goalkeeper with his hands.
Furthermore, his second goal was awarded FIFA’s ‘Goal of the Century,’ showcasing his skill as he dribbled past the entire England team to score.
Maradona’s two goals were monumental for La Albiceleste in the match against England, leading the South Americans to win the World Cup – the second in the history of Argentina.
In an interview, he admitted to using his hand, stating, ‘a little with the head and a little hand of God.’ This moment has since been famously referred to as the ‘Hand of God’.
The infamous jersey worn by Maradona was sold for a record price of $9.28 million at a Sotheby’s auction in London. Sotheby’s auctions have been a popular destination for sports fans to collect memorabilia over the years, featuring some of the most iconic items. The shirt was previously in the possession of English midfielder Steve Hodge, who exchanged it after the match.
Diego Maradona jersey beats Kobe Bryant’s record
Diego Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time in soccer, particularly in Naples where he played for Napoli, and in Argentina. Memorabilia related to his illustrious career, such as his 1986 jersey, recently fetched a record sale of $9.28 million at a Sotheby’s auction, surpassing the record held by NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey, worn during the 2007-08 season, was sold for $5.8 million earlier this year at the same auction.
Lionel Messi, the successor of the legendary Maradona, led Argentina to its third World Cup victory after 36 years since the glory of the 1986 Mexico tournament.
Unfortunately, Maradona passed away in 2020 before witnessing his country lifting the cup. Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona by dedicating his record 8th France Golden Ball award to the late legend. The Argentine icon is one of the most celebrated sports figures globally.
