Diego Maradona’s iconic Golden Ball trophy from the 1986 World Cup has been found after decades of being missing. The legendary award will be up for auction at Aguttes in Paris next month, according to the house. Maradona, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 60, was awarded the trophy for his exceptional performance during the tournament. He led Argentina to victory in the final against West Germany with a score of 3-2 in Mexico City.
Throughout the tournament, Maradona made history with his infamous “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” in a match against England during the quarterfinals. The auction house expects the trophy to fetch millions due to its significance and rarity. Maradona received the award for being the best player of the tournament at a ceremony held at Lido cabaret on Champs-Élysées in 1986. However, after several years, it disappeared from its original place and sparked various rumors and speculations about its whereabouts.
Some stories suggest that it was lost during a poker game or sold to settle debts. Others claim that Maradona hid it away in his private safe or that it was stolen by local criminals who broke into a Naples bank where he kept it during his time playing in Italy. A mafia member turned informant even claimed that it was melted down into gold pieces, but this theory was dismissed by Aguttes due to lack of evidence and because the trophy was made of gold-copper alloy, not pure gold as some people believed. In 2016, however, Diego Maradona’s Adidas Golden Ball trophy resurfaced among other items acquired from a private collection in Paris which were later authenticated by Aguttes as genuine.
The legacy of Diego Maradona goes beyond just this iconic trophy though; his controversial goals against England showcased his unparalleled talent and skill as a footballer during this tournament which is still recognized as one of FIFA’s greatest ever performances. François Thierry, an expert sports analyst at Aguttes emphasized how significant this event was for footballing history stating that it represented an exceptional display of skill and technique on both sides but also symbolized something more profound – two great nations trying their best on one single stage without any malice or hatred towards each other despite their differences back then.” Potential bidders will have to make a deposit of €150k ($161k) before participating in this highly anticipated auction scheduled for June 6th at Aguttes’ headquarters in Paris.
