The ball used in Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his iconic strike score against England at the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals sold for $3.35 million Saturday, Heritage Auctions said.
The Dallas-based auction house sold the ball after experts matched it to photographs taken during the match but the final price fell significantly short of the pre-auction estimate of at least $10 million.
Prior to the auction, Heritage described it as arguably the most famous ball in any sport and said it could become the most valuable football item ever sold.
Maradona earned the phrase "Hand of God" for his opening goal against England when referees missed his left-handed punch past goalkeeper Peter Shilton and allowed the score to stand.
Just four minutes later, the Argentine captain took possession in his own half and wove past five English players, scoring a goal which fans later voted FIFA's World Cup "Goal of the Century."
