This is not just an old match ball. It is tied to one of the most argued-over goals the sport has ever seen, a moment that still sparks debate nearly four decades later.
For Argentina, that quarter-final sits inside a triumphant World Cup run led by their captain. For England, it remains one of the game’s great what-ifs.
The update says the ball will be offered in the United States from 21 to 23 August, with an estimate of around $10m and an opening bid of $2.5m. If bidding reaches that level, it would move beyond the value attached to Maradona’s shirt from the same match, which has been put at $9.3m.
That says plenty about the place Maradona still occupies in football culture. Since his death in November 2020, objects connected to his career have appeared to carry even greater emotional weight. Buyers are not simply chasing rarity; they are buying a piece of myth.
There is an uncomfortable truth at the centre of all this: football’s most valuable artefacts are often attached to its messiest moments. Glory helps, but controversy gives an item a second life. This ball belongs to both.
The next thing to watch is simple: whether the bidding matches the legend. If it does, the sale will not only break records - it will underline once again that Maradona remains one of the sport’s most powerful, divisive and enduring names.