The auction of Diego Maradona’s jersey from the legendary 1986 World Cup quarter-finals has opened with a bid of five million dollars (approx. 4.6 million euros).
The shirt of the football icon from Argentina, who died in 2020, is currently under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction house, the auction will run until May 4th.
Maradona had scored two goals against England in the blue number 10 shirt. He scored one goal with the “Hand of God”, the second after a sensational solo.
The most expensive jersey in sports history to date is that of baseball legend Babe Ruth from the New York Yankees, which brought in 5.6 million dollars in 2019.
Maradona’s daughter had expressed doubts about the auction before the auction. According to her, Maradona only wore the shirt on sale in the goalless first half. Sotheby’s insists they have the “right” jersey.
The jersey was owned until the very end by former England international Steve Hodge, who swapped jerseys with Maradona after the game. The shirt had been on display at the National Football Museum in Manchester for 20 years.