G.O.A.T. Maradona's 'Hand of God' jersey sold for record 7.1 million pounds

The jersey that Argentina football great Diego Maradona wore when he scored twice against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous 'Hand of God' goal, was sold for over 7.1 million pounds (9.3 million dollars) - making it the most expensive item of sports memorabilia ever to sell at auction.

Seven bidders vied for the iconic garment in the auction that started on April 20. The shirt, which has spent the last 20 years on loan at the National Football Museum in Manchester, went under the hammer for 7,142,500 pounds to an anonymous buyer.

An Argentinian delegation, consisting of Maradona's family, private memorabilia firm and the country's football association, was reportedly in London to buy the shirt themselves. However, it is not yet known who won the prized sports memorabilia.

"This historic shirt is a tangible reminder of an important moment not only in the history of sports but in the history of the 20th century," Sotheby's head of streetwear and modern collectibles Brahm Wachter said in a statement after the sale.

"This is arguably the most coveted football shirt to ever come to auction, and so it is fitting that it now holds the auction record for any object of its kind," Watcher added.

The legendary football icon swapped his jersey with England midfielder Steve Hodge after the Three Lions lost the game 2-1 in Mexico City. Hodge had the treasured jersey for the last 35 years.

Maradona's daughter had earlier claimed that the jersey put up for auction was the one worn by her father in the goalless first half of the clash, and not in the second when he scored the two iconic goals. However, Sotheby's insisted they had the right shirt, though.

The previous record for any sports memorabilia was the original autograph manuscript of the Olympic Manifesto from 1892, which sold at Sotheby’s for 8.8 million dollars in December 2019. The previous record for a game-worn shirt was held by Babe Ruth’s Yankees road Jersey, which sold for 5.64 dollars million in 2019.