In the annals of football lore, a shirt worn by Diego Armando Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal in Mexico stands as one of the sport’s most electrifying artifacts. It was the same match where Maradona scored two defining goals against England, a duel etched into memory for the infamous Hand of God moment and the breathtaking solo run that followed, often hailed as one of the greatest goals in the history of the game. The shirt was acquired by Steve Hodge, a member of the England squad that night, who would carry its weight for years as a personal keepsake before deciding that its preservation might serve a larger purpose.
Hodge received the jersey directly after the final whistle of that high-stakes game and held onto it through a long period of quiet ownership. His connection to the shirt was marked by a sense of timing and narrative clarity; he believed that the moment had arrived when the world might once again witness the significance of this single piece of fabric worn in a world stage match that shifted national football memories. For years he displayed the shirt publicly in the United Kingdom, allowing fans and scholars to marvel at the story it carried, a symbol of fierce competition and dramatic football drama that resonates with audiences in Canada, the United States, and beyond.
Eventually, the shirt found its way into a formal collection, with the National Football Museum in Manchester serving as a guardian of its legacy for many years. Yet the piece continued to attract intense interest from collectors, historians, and fans who recognized its potential to illuminate a pivotal moment in football history. In 2022, the decision was made to auction the shirt, a move that many commentators described as timely and fitting given the enduring resonance of the Hand of God match and the broader narrative of Maradona’s career.
During the auction process, the price reached levels that reflected the shirt’s extraordinary place in sporting culture and its status as a coveted relic. The identity of the ultimate purchaser remained confidential, preserving a sense of mystery around ownership while ensuring that the artifact would continue to be treated with care by those who understand its significance. The broader story of the shirt encompasses more than a single match; it is a thread in the larger tapestry of how legendary performances become enduring symbols that travel across continents and generations, inviting new audiences to explore the context, the controversies, and the sheer artistry of one of football’s most storied careers.