The Adidas Azteca ball, central to Argentina's 2-1 victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, was used on 22/6/1986 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Within four minutes, this ball witnessed two moments that cemented Maradona's legendary status.

In the 51st minute, Maradona famously challenged goalkeeper Peter Shilton and used his left hand to guide the ball into the net. Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser missed the foul and allowed the goal. After the match, Maradona famously described the goal as being scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God", coining the immortal nickname 'Hand of God'.

Maradona uses his hand to guide the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton, scoring for Argentina in their victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, at Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico, on 22/6/1986. Photo: *Reuters*

Four minutes later, with the same ball, Maradona produced a moment of pure genius. Receiving the ball in his own half, he embarked on a dazzling 70-meter dribble, weaving past several English players before beating Shilton. This remarkable effort became known as the 'Goal of the Century'.

Maradona's brilliance in that match led Argentina to defeat England, propelling them towards their second World Cup title.

The ball was sold at Heritage Auctions in the US on the evening of 23/8 for 3.35 million USD. This price fell short of the auction house's initial expectation of around 10 million USD, but it remains among the most expensive football memorabilia ever sold.

Prior to the auction, Heritage had hoped the ball might fetch a price comparable to Maradona's jersey from the same quarter-final match, which Sotheby's sold for nearly 9.3 million USD in 2022. Nevertheless, the 3.35 million USD figure significantly exceeds the ball's previous sale price.

Referee Ali Bin Nasser kept the ball for over three decades after the 1986 match. In 2022, he sold it for 2.37 million USD. One year later, the ball returned to the market but did not find a new owner, as the highest bid failed to meet the seller's reserve price.

This time, the artifact from one of football's most famous matches has found a new owner. While the 3.35 million USD price might be lower than some expectations for collectors, the ball's historical value is immeasurable. In just a few minutes at Azteca Stadium in 1986, it bore witness to both the most controversial and the most brilliant moments of Maradona's career.

A resident stands near a mural depicting the famous 'Hand of God' goal by legend Diego Maradona in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 21/5/2010. Photo: *Reuters*

Maradona, nicknamed 'El Pibe de Oro' (The Golden Boy), is often considered the only player in football history on par with Pele. During his career, he played as an attacking midfielder, scoring 34 goals in 91 appearances for the Argentina national team.

The pinnacle of Maradona's career was the 1986 World Cup championship. In that tournament, he provided five assists and scored five goals, including the two iconic goals mentioned earlier, which remain his lasting legacy.

At the club level, Maradona played a total of 259 matches, scoring 115 goals and providing 29 assists for Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Napoli. He is most remembered for his time at Napoli, where he led the then-mid-tier Italian club to Scudetto titles in 1987 and 1990.

Maradona passed away at the age of 60 due to a stroke at his home in 11/2020, two weeks after brain surgery. Argentina observed three days of national mourning.

Vy Anh