Diego Maradona’s Daughter Casts Doubt On Authenticity Of ‘Hand Of God’ Jersey Up For Auction

Topline

Soccer star Diego Maradona’s eldest daughter stated a jersey that Sotheby’s expects to public sale for greater than $5.2 million this month will not be the shirt her father wore when he scored his “Hand of God” and “Aim of the Century” targets within the 1986 World Cup, a declare the public sale home denied to Forbes.

Sotheby’s maintains the jersey they’re auctioning is the genuine shirt Diego Maradona wore when he … [+] scored the “Hand of God” and “Aim of the Century.”

Sotheby’s

Key Information

Dalma Maradona instructed Argentinian radio station Metro that her father wore the jersey up on the market during the first half of the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match in opposition to England, earlier than he scored the 2 well-known targets within the second half.

The match was held in Mexico Metropolis that yr and after a goalless first half, Maradona changed his shirt at halftime due to how scorching it was at Azteca stadium, in accordance with his daughter.

She stated she needed to verify whoever needs to purchase the jersey “is aware of the reality.”

Dalma Maradona stated she is aware of who has her father’s jersey from the second half of the sport, however says she gained’t reveal their id “in order to not expose” them, however added that it isn’t her mom, Maradona’s ex-wife Claudia Villafane.

Villafane stated it’s “going to be our phrase in opposition to this ex-player’s,” referring to former England midfielder Steve Hodge, who’s promoting the jersey 36 years after purportedly swapping shirts with Maradona after the match.

Diego Maradona outjumps England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to attain along with his “Hand of God” aim.

Getty Pictures

Contra

Sotheby’s instructed Forbes in an e mail Thursday that Maradona did put on a special shirt within the first half, however stated there are “clear variations” between the 2 shirts and that Sotheby’s investigated earlier than placing the jersey up on the market. The public sale home had an impartial firm photomatch the highest with pictures taken of Maradona throughout the second half of the match. Maradona himself described giving Hodge the jersey he wore when he scored the 2 targets in his 2016 memoir Touched by God: How We Received the Mexico ’86 World Cup, Sotheby’s stated. The public sale home additionally stated the jersey’s authenticity wasn’t questioned throughout the 20 years it was displayed on the Nationwide Soccer Museum in Manchester, England.

Key Background

Hodge was the participant who inadvertently kicked the ball up within the air towards Maradona, who, in a bid to maintain the ball away from England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, jumped up along with his left arm outstretched and knocked the ball into England’s aim along with his closed fist. Outfield gamers should not allowed to make use of their palms or arms in soccer, however the recreation’s referees allowed the aim to face as a result of they didn’t have a transparent view of the aim, which went on to be nicknamed the “Hand of God.” Simply 4 minutes later, Maradona scored once more, dribbling the ball 60 yards from midfield round 4 England gamers and making a aim after 11 touches in 11 seconds. In 2002, FIFA followers voted the play the “Aim of the Century.” If the jersey sells for Sotheby’s $5.2 million estimate, it’ll grow to be the costliest game-worn soccer shirt ever bought publicly. The present document is the $225,109 jersey worn by Pelé throughout the 1970 World Cup remaining during which Brazil defeated Italy, in accordance with Guinness World Data.

Tangent

A set of golf golf equipment purportedly utilized by Tiger Woods to win all 4 main championships in a row —referred to as a “Tiger Slam”—might fetch round $1 million at public sale this weekend, regardless of Woods as soon as saying himself it is not the suitable set. Across the time the golf equipment have been beforehand auctioned in 2012, Woods instructed reporters the actual “Tiger Slam” golf equipment have been in his storage. Woods’ crew declined to remark to Forbes final month.