Maradona ‘Hand Of God’ Opponent’s Shirt To Be Sold

A moment in time that has been immortalised. The outstretched arms of England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, and the Argentina great, Diego Maradona, against the backdrop of the famed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Everyone in football knows what happened next but little did we realise then that the shirts of these two old foes would become collectors’ items.

In May 2022 the #10 jersey worn by Maradona sold for £7.1 million– a record-breaking sum that reflected the enduring power of controversy as well as his status as an all-time great.

Now, Shilton’s #1 jersey from the same match, is expected to fetch up to £300,000 when it goes under the hammer as part of an auction next July.

Shilton was the wronged party, the goalkeeper who found himself on the receiving end of one of football’s most brazen, unpunished acts of cheating, yet even today it’s Maradona’s shirt that has proved the most valuable.

David Convery of Graham Budd Auctions said: “Coming off his back in 100 degree heat in 1986, it has a wee bit of a whiff to it.”

Maradona, of course, would go on to score what is widely regarded as the greatest World Cup goal of all time later in that match. He would emerge victorious and go on to lift the trophy in the final. Shilton went home a loser.

Alongside the England goalkeeper’s shirt, which is being sold by a private collector, are other items up for auction, including Pelé’s 1958 World Cup winner’s medal (£500,000), Gordon Banks’ 1966 medal (£300,000), and Alan Ball’s shirt from that same ’66 final (£200,000). Shilton declined to comment.

Insideworldfootball.com