The football used to score one of the most controversial goals in sports history, known as the "Hand of God," has found a new owner at an auction in the United States. The legendary souvenir used by Diego Maradona was sold by Heritage Auctions for $3.3 million. However, the final price fell significantly short of initial expectations, which had estimated its value at around $10 million.

The historic event took place on June 22, 1986, during the World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England. The Argentine striker directed the ball into the opponent's net with his hand, but main referee Ali Bin Nasser misjudged the action as a header and officially allowed the goal.

Following the match, Maradona offered a famous explanation regarding the questionable incident. He stated that the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." Since then, the object has been considered one of the most significant pieces of memorabilia in football history.

The Adidas Azteca ball was kept in the personal collection of referee Ali Bin Nasser for more than three decades. In 2022, the former official sold it for $2.37 million. Although a subsequent attempt to auction the item a year later failed due to a lack of buyer interest, the iconic football has now successfully changed hands once again.