Historic: they will auction the shirt that Diego Maradona wore against England in the 1986 World Cup and hope to achieve a millionaire figure

The dream of millions of world collectors can come true, but only one will be the lucky one: the British auction house Sotheby's formally announced that a bid will be opened to sell the shirt worn by Diego Armando Maradona in the historic match against England for the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Mexico 1986.

“Announced today, an online auction dedicated to the historic shirt worn by Maradona at the 1986 World Cup”, published in his stories the official Instagram account of the company in question. The economic dispute for this jewel in world football history will begin on April 20 and will end on May 4. “Don't just call it a match, it was more than that. It was history, there were few moments in sports that could really change the line between athletics and something bigger,” said the auction house on its website when presenting the new acquisition.

While no initial price was given at which the auction will begin, the British media reported that it is expected to sell for at least $5.2 million.

The shirt in question is full of sports, cultural and political anecdotes. As for the former, it is with which the star of world football turned him the two most remembered goals in history in the same match against England in the quarterfinals of a World Cup in which they would finally become champions.

In that duel on June 22, Maradona starred in The Hand of God and The Goal of the Century. The former continues to be well remembered for his mischief as he jumped against the English goalkeeper Peter Shelton and, in the air, raising his hand to prevail at the height of the Briton's 1.83 meters high, marking the goal that would open the score. “It was a little with Maradona's head and a little with the hand of God,” the footballer declared at the time.

Subsequently, the best goal in the history of the world championships would come. When the 25-year-old took the ball in the middle of the court and began to dodge opponents towards the goal in a run that will be remembered forever. In 2002, after a survey involving 340,000 fans from 150 countries, it was listed as “The best goal of the century”.

Politically and culturally, the victory over the English took place in a rarefied context between the countries, since just a few years earlier there had been a war in the Malvinas Islands War, an event that framed the sports confrontation and gave it a more exciting color for the Argentine people.

For 35 years the shirt has belonged to former midfielder Steve Hodge, who was the one who dared to ask for it at the end of that meeting: “I thought, I won't be here again. I'll try to get the shirt,” he recalled in dialogue with FIFA.

Later, in a television interview, he added: “I went down, behind the goal, to the locker room... As I went down, Maradona walked with two of her teammates. I looked him in the eye, threw my shirt at him as if to say 'is there any possibility of exchange? ' , and he came up, made a gesture of prayer and we exchanged t-shirts. And that was it. As simple as that.”

In an interview with The Guardian, Sotheby's head of modern clothing and collectibles, Brahm Wachter, said: “The Hand of God is truly a unique moment not only in the history of sports, but in the history of the 20th century.” “The moment resonated well beyond the world of football, shortly after the Falklands conflict and, in turn, inspired books, films and documentaries. Maradona is now remembered as one of the greatest football players, and this particular game is a fundamental part of his legacy.”

The online bid for Diego Armando Maradona's shirt can be made online from April 20 and will last until May 4 through the official Sotheby's website. The newspapers The Guardian and The Times speculated that the figure will rise to £4 million (more than $5 million).

One of the most important shirts in history remains, even today, at the National Football Museum in Manchester. Hodge decided to give it up for the specialists to guard it, but in the last few hours he decided to part with this symbol. “It's been an honor and a privilege to take care of that Diego Maradona shirt for over 18 years. Interested in seeing who catches her next. In our squad there is always room for another signing on loan...”, wrote the Museum on its social networks, hoping to continue having it as one of its relics beyond the new buyer.

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