- Sotheby’s to auction Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup semi-final shirt
- The Argentine scored twice in the match to seal a 2-0 victory over Belgium
- He had exchanged his shirt for the gloves of Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff.
Sotheby’s is set to auction off the shirt worn by Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup semi-final, which has an estimated value of between £620,000 ($800,000) and £926,000 ($1.2 million).
Maradona scored twice during the semi-final, helping Argentina beat Belgium 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca, before leading his team to victory in the tournament final against West Germany.
Following Argentina’s semi-final victory over Belgium, the former Barcelona and Napoli star swapped his shirt with the gloves of Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff.
Maradona, who died in 2020, had also signed the shirt: ‘For the great Jean-Marie, with all my love’.
Pfaff has since displayed the shirt to the public in his pop-up museum, which opened in July 2023 and contains a variety of football memorabilia, from trophies to match-worn shirts.
Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup semi-final shirt (pictured) to be sold at auction
The shirt is valued at between £620,000 ($800,000) and £926,000 ($1.2 million) and will be sold by Sotheby’s.
Argentina beat Belgium 2-0 during the match, with Maradona (left) scoring both goals.
“I have treasured this shirt for almost four decades, ever since Diego and I exchanged items after that unforgettable semi-final,” said Pffaf, speaking about his decision to put the shirt up for auction.
“Competing against one of the greatest football players was an honour, but being able to call him a friend was even more special. Sharing this little piece of history with the public at the El Sympatico Museum in Beveren over the past year has been truly rewarding.”
Prior to that match, Argentina had booked their place in the World Cup semi-final after one of the most famous matches in the history of the game, with Maradona scoring the ‘Hand of God’ goal and the ‘Goal of the Century’ during their 2-1 quarter-final win against England.
Sotheby’s, the leading auction destination for fine art and luxury goods, had previously sold his “Hand of God” shirt from that match for £7.2 million ($9.3 million) in May 2022, a figure that made it the most valuable football shirt in the world.
Brahm Watcher, Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectibles at Sotheby’s, said: “Maradona is rightly remembered as one of the greatest footballers of all time and Sotheby’s is honoured to be part of the history of this iconic World Cup match-worn shirt.”
‘Maradona’s second World Cup shirt to be auctioned at Sotheby’s once again demonstrates that we are the leading destination for sports memorabilia, a market that has grown enormously in recent years.’
Maradona exchanged shirts with Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, signing the shirt: “For the great Jean-Marie, with all my love.”
Pffaf (pictured) said he had “treasured the shirt for almost four decades” and kept it in his emerging football memorabilia museum.
Maradona is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and his “Hand of God” jersey recently sold for £7.2 million ($9.3 million).
The ‘Hand of God’ shirt (pictured) is considered the most expensive football shirt in history.
Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever exist in the history of football, and the former Argentina number 10 possesses exceptional ball control and the ability to dribble past opposing players.
He was also a leader on the field of play and was known for his charisma and outspoken nature when it came to social and political causes. His charity, The Maradona Foundation, supports a variety of charities and causes, from child welfare to diversity and inclusion.
The shirt will be on public display at Sotheby’s in New York from July 26 to 30.
