Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt gets massive R148m

New York – The jersey that Argentina football legend Diego Maradona wore while scoring twice against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous “Hand of God” goal, was auctioned for $9.3 million (about R148 million), a record for any item of sports memorabilia, Sotheby’s said.

Seven bidders vied for the garment in an auction that began 20 April and ended on Wednesday morning, Sotheby’s said, without releasing the name of the buyer.

“This historic shirt is a tangible reminder of an important moment not only in the history of sports, but in the history of the 20th century,” Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles Brahm Wachter said in a statement after the sale. –