The ball late Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona used to score his infamous "hand of God" handball against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals was sold in auction on Wednesday for nearly $2.4 million (2.31 million Euros), APA reports citing Associated Press.
The 36-year-old Adidas ball was owned by the game's referee, Tunisian Ali Bin Nasser. He said ahead of the auction that he felt the time was right for it to be shared with the public. Bin Nasser even expressed hope that the buyer would put it on public display.
The identity of the new owner of the ball has yet to be revealed.
Argentina's controversial goal, which Bin Nasser allowed as the referee, qualified the country against England, paving the way for it to win the World Cup that year.
The incident occurred at much turbulent times for the two nations' diplomatic relations. It came as the Falklands Islands war, which Britain fought to maintain its control over the islands, was still fresh.
Maradona died aged 60 in November 2020. The coming Qatar 2022 World Cup, which kicks off next Sunday, will be the first ever since his passing.
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