From World Cup Winner to Auction Block: The Legendary Golden Ball Trophy of Diego Maradona

The Golden Ball trophy of Diego Maradona from the 1986 World Cup has resurfaced after being missing for decades and will be auctioned in Paris next month, according to Aguttes house. The trophy, which was awarded to Maradona for his outstanding performance at the tournament, is expected to fetch a high price due to its uniqueness.

Maradona led Argentina to a 3-2 victory over West Germany in the final in Mexico City, where he scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” in a 2-1 victory over England in the quarterfinals. The auction house expects the trophy to fetch a high price due to its uniqueness.

The trophy was presented to Maradona at a ceremony at the Lido cabaret on the Champs-Élysées in 1986, but it then disappeared, leading to various rumors about its whereabouts. Some speculated that it was lost during a poker game, sold to pay off debts, or stored in a safe in a Naples bank that was later robbed by local gangsters while Maradona was playing in the Italian league in 1989. However, Aguttes dismissed this as a “far-fetched theory” since it was made of a gold-copper alloy.

The trophy resurfaced in 2016 among other items acquired from a private collection at an auction in Paris and was authenticated as Diego Maradona’s Adidas Golden Ball trophy. Along with his controversial “Hand of God” goal and incredible dribbling skills, Maradona is also remembered for scoring FIFA’s declared greatest goal in World Cup history by weaving through England’s midfield and defense before beating the goalkeeper. Sports expert François Thierry from Aguttes praised Maradona’s performance in the tournament.