With the 2026 FIFA World Cup still fresh in the mind, one of the most iconic pieces of World Cup memorabilia has gone under the hammer in the USA.

The match ball with which Diego Maradona scored his iconic 'Hand of God' goal in 1986 has now been sold for £2.5 million at an auction.

Consigned by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who took charge of the game in which the ball was used, it fell significantly short of predicted prices, which reached up to £7.3 million.

The Adidas Azteca ball remains one of the most expensive memorabilia sold from the 1986 FIFA World Cup, regardless.

Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ and ‘Goal of the Century’ Ball Sells for £2.5m

Maradona's 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal appearance against England is iconic for a number of reasons, sporting and otherwise.

In that game, he displayed both his brilliance and controversy, rising above Peter Shilton before using his hand to direct the ball into the net.

A few minutes later, he scored what was deemed as the 'Goal of the Century', dribbling past a series of England players before slotting the ball home.

Both goals were scored with the same ball, as referee Bin Nasser confirmed that only one ball was used for the game.

Bidding took place for the piece of football history at Heritage Auctions in the United States on Saturday, and it was bought for £2.5 million.

How Referee Ali Bin Nasser Kept Maradona’s Iconic Match Ball

Ali Bin Nasser was the man in the middle for the quarterfinal game at the Estadio Azteca 40 years ago, and awarded the controversial opening goal from Maradona.

With technology not as advanced as it is today, neither he nor his assistant spotted Maradona's use of his arm to score, despite furious remonstrations from the English players.

Bin Nasser kept the ball from the game for over three decades before deciding to sell it in 2022 for £1.74 million to Graham Budd Auctions.

He confirmed that it was the only ball used in the game, and the new owner auctioned it a year later but did not sell it as the bids failed to meet minimum expectations.

Why Maradona’s Match Ball Sold for Less Than His Famous Shirt

Before the auction was conducted, the market valuation of the ball reached up to £7.3 million.

The auction took place more than a month after the FIFA World Cup, despite the tournament creating renewed global interest in football memorabilia.

The valuation of the ball was that high because four years ago, Maradona's match-worn shirt from that game was sold for £7.1 million.

The shirt had been in the possession of England defender Steve Hodge, whose clearance inadvertently helped create the famous ‘Hand of God’ moment.

Industry experts have attributed the disparity in the valuation and actual price to be due to shifting market dynamics for game-used memorabilia against match-worn memorabilia.

Even at a price below expectations, the sale underlined the enduring value of Maradona’s legacy and the extraordinary place the 1986 World Cup holds in football history.