The football involved in one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history has changed hands once again, selling for £2.5m at auction in the United States.
The ball, used during Argentina's quarter-final clash with England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City, is forever linked to Diego Maradona's notorious opening goal, in which he punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton without the officials noticing. Argentina went on to win the match, with Maradona also scoring a second goal in the contest, a mesmerising individual effort in which he weaved past several English defenders before finishing calmly past Shilton. That strike would later be immortalised as the 'goal of the century.'
The auction, held by Heritage Auctions, saw the ball go for $3.3m, equivalent to roughly £2.5m. Despite the historic significance of the item, the final sale price fell well short of pre-auction predictions, which had suggested it could reach as high as $10m, or around £7.3m.
Speaking ahead of the sale, Heritage Auctions specialist Mike Provenzale underlined the rarity and importance of the artefact.