The captain's armband of Diego Maradona, who signed one of the most controversial moments in football history, has been put up for sale at the Sotheby's auction house in New York. The legendary Argentine player was wearing this armband on 22 June 1986 during the World Cup match against England, when he put the ball into the net with his hand. This incident resulted in the famous goal known as the "Hand of God" in the football world, and the debates continued for years. Described as a sort of "unholy grail" for England fans, this item is attracting great interest in the sports memorabilia market. The auction will remain open until 16 July, and the highest bid announced last week was at the level of 100.000 dollars. Since there are still days left, this figure is expected to increase even further.
Another significant piece put up for sale at the same auction has a much less controversial history. The number 10 shirt worn by Brazilian legend Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden, a match in which he scored two goals, is ready to be the favorite of collectors. Pelé, who was only 17 years old at the time, played a major role in Brazil's 5-2 victory in that final match. Even after almost 70 years have passed, Pelé still holds the title of the youngest player to play in a World Cup final. Sotheby's officials told The Guardian that they expect to earn at least 6 million dollars from the sale of this historic shirt. This figure, if realized, will go down in the record books as the most expensive football memorabilia in an auction to date.
The current record in the sports memorabilia market also belongs to an item belonging to Maradona. The sale of the Argentine star's shirt, worn during that same 1986 England match—specifically when he scored that controversial goal—for 9,3 million dollars in 2022 created a revolution. This crazy figure is shown as one of the clearest proofs of how large a market sports collecting has reached. In addition to this, the Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions announced that it will put the actual ball from that historic match up for sale in August. The ball in question is considered a unique piece that cannot fit into any pricing mold due to its historical value. Officials state that, in general, the sports auction market has gained incredible momentum in recent years and is on the rise.
This football passion in auction houses is not limited only to the sale of historical items; it also deeply affects the dynamics of the modern game. Christie's, one of Sotheby's biggest rivals, will take a very different step to celebrate the World Cup in New York on 17 July. An exhibition consisting of five massive metallic football art installations has already begun to be displayed on the streets of New York and New Jersey. It was reported that a portion of the proceeds to be obtained from the sale of these giant artworks will be donated to charities. Such innovative events reveal how sports intertwine with art and culture. Auctions are gradually moving beyond traditional trading operations, becoming a global cultural festivity.
Various organizations such as the Northamptonshire-based Budds and the Dutch online auction platform MatchWornShirt have also accelerated the sale of worn shirts from past tournaments. Especially in Japan, the sales of this year's World Cup shirts experienced an incredible surge, according to Adidas' manufacturer data. While the sales of away shirts increased by 29 times compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup period, the sales of home shirts also doubled. The fact that adult replica shirts, sold for 13.200 Yen (approximately 60 pounds) on the Adidas website in Japan, sold out reveals the enthusiasm of these Japanese fans. Even though Japan was eliminated from this year's tournament, the fans will continue to keep their passion for football alive for many years with these shirts they have in their hands.
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