PARIS: Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy, awarded for being named the best player at the 1986 World Cup, will be auctioned off in France on 6 June, local media reported. The Golden Ball trophy had been missing for quite some time, has recently resurfaced and is set to be auctioned off. According to BBC Sports, the esteemed item will go under the hammer in France on June 6, as announced by the Aguttes auction house.
Maradona, who passed away at the age of 60 in 2020, clinched the prestigious award after leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup held in Mexico. Despite numerous tales and speculations surrounding the trophy’s disappearance, Aguttes auction house sports expert Francois Thierry has confirmed its authenticity. He dispelled the myths, including one suggesting it was “stolen by the mafia to make gold.”
Thierry disclosed that the trophy’s journey to rediscovery began when an anonymous buyer acquired it at a French auction in 2016 without realizing its significance. During the 1986 World Cup, Maradona etched his name in history by scoring two iconic goals against England in the quarter-finals, famously known as the “Goal of the Century” by FIFA. Notably, the jersey worn by Maradona on that monumental day and the match ball have previously fetched millions at auction.
Reflecting on past sales, Thierry remarked, “We have witnessed significant bids before, such as Maradona’s 1986 England jersey selling for approximately £9 million and the match ball fetching £2 million.”
