Diego Maradona's Golden Ball trophy from the 1986 World Cup has resurfaced. The award, which had been missing for decades, will be auctioned in Paris next month, the Aguttes house said. (More Football News)
Maradona, who died in 2020 at age 60, was awarded the trophy for his scintillating play at the tournament, where he captained Argentina in its 3-2 win over West Germany in the final in Mexico City. Before that, he scored the controversial 바카라śHand of God바카라ť goal and the 바카라śGoal of the Century" in a 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals.
The auction house said it expects the trophy 바카라śto fetch millions due to its uniqueness.
Maradona received the award 바카라” given to the tournament's best player 바카라” at a ceremony at the Lido cabaret on the Champs-ÉlysĂ©es in 1986. It subsequently disappeared, giving rise to rumors.
Some say it was lost during a wild poker game, or sold to pay off debts, Aguttes said.
Others said Maradona had stored it in a safe in a Naples bank that was robbed by local gangsters in 1989, when he played in the Italian league. According to the story told by a reformed member of the mafia, the trophy was then melted down into gold pieces.
바카라śA far-fetched theory, given that it was made of a gold-copper alloy,바카라ť Aguttes said in its auction catalogue.
Aguttes said the trophy reappeared in 2016 among other lots that were acquired from a private collection at auction in Paris.
바카라śIt was thoroughly investigated and authenticated as Diego Maradona's Adidas Golden Ball trophy,바카라ť Aguttes said.
The 바카라śHand of God바카라ť goal came when Maradona punched the ball into England's net for his team's opener. Maradona was also a magician with the ball at his feet and four minutes later, he weaved through England's midfield and defense and then past goalkeeper Peter Shilton for what FIFA later declared the greatest goal in World Cup history.
바카라śTo say that this World Cup had it all would be an understatement ... it was also, and above all, the tournament where Diego Maradona really showed the world what he could do with his feet, and even with his hands,바카라ť said François Thierry, a sports expert at Aguttes.
Bidders will be asked to make a deposit of 150,000 euros ($161,000) to participate in the June 6 auction.
