Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty; Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/Corbis/VCG via Getty

Sotheby’s New Bond Street exhibition of Diego Maradona’s Historic 1986 World Cup Match-Worn Shirt opens to the public at Sotheby’s on April 20, 2022 in London, England. The shirt was worn both during ‘The Hand of God’ and ‘Goal of the Century’ goals, as shown by Resolution Photomatching. The online auction opened this morning, with a first bid now placed on the lot for £4 million, bidding remains open until 4 May. Diego Maradona from Argentina celebrates after scoring his second goal against England in a quarterfinal match of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Maradona, who died in November 2020, wore the jersey during the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup as Argentina faced England.

Gustavo Garello/Jam Media/Getty

Diego Armando Maradona (C) Head Coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima looks on prior to a match between Boca Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata as part of Superliga 2019/20 at Alberto J. Armando Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The jersey went on sale on behalf of English midfielder Steve Hodge, who asked to swap jerseys with Maradona after the game.

“I have been the proud owner of this item for over 35 years since Diego and I swapped shirts in the tunnel after the famed match,” Hodge said in a statement. “It was an absolute privilege to have played against one of the greatest and most magnificent football players of all time. It has also been a pleasure to share it with the public over the last 20 years at the National Football Museum, where it has been on display.”

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“The Hand of God shirt has deep cultural meaning to the football world, the people of Argentina, and the people of England and I’m certain that the new owner will have immense pride in owning the world’s most iconic football shirt,” he continued.

The jersey’s buyer has not been publicly identified.

source: people.com