The auction of a trophy awarded to the late Diego Maradona that was planned for this week has been postponed, French auction house Aguttes said on Sunday, amid a judicial investigation looking into the possible resale of stolen goods. Maradona’s heirs this week failed to stop the auction of the Golden Ball trophy he received for being the best player at the 1986 World Cup by starting an urgent judicial motion. A French court ruled the auction could go ahead but the lawyer for Maradona’s heirs lodged an appeal. Maximilien Aguttes, released a statement saying, “Maradona has always aroused passions, and this continues despite the recent court ruling on Thursday, which we welcome and which dismissed the heirs’ request for a ban on the sale.”
French judicial officials last month opened an investigation after they received a complaint related to the resale of allegedly stolen goods. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said the court ruling did not have an impact on the probe, which is still ongoing. The Golden Ball was missing for decades after it disappeared in uncertain circumstances and only recently resurfaced. Maradona’s heirs said the trophy was stolen and claimed the owner wasn’t entitled to sell it. Aguttes said the trophy reappeared in 2016 among other lots that were acquired from a private collection at auction in Paris. The owner and Aguttes claimed that when he bought the trophy years ago he was not aware it had been stolen.
Maradona received the award in 1986 at a ceremony at the Lido cabaret on the Champs-Élysées. It subsequently disappeared, giving rise to rumors. Some say it was lost during a poker game or sold to pay off debts. Others say Maradona stored it in a safe in a Naples bank that was robbed by local gangsters in 1989 when he played in the Italian league. Maradona’s heirs believe it was stolen from the bank. Maradona, who died in 2020 at age 60, captained Argentina in its 3-2 win over West Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico City. In a quarterfinal win over England he scored the “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century.” Aguttes said it expects the trophy “to fetch millions due to its uniqueness.”
The Hand of God goal came when Maradona punched the ball into England’s net. Four minutes later, he weaved through England’s midfield and defence and past goalkeeper Peter Shilton for what FIFA later declared the greatest goal in World Cup history. The auction of such a significant trophy tied to one of the greatest footballers in history has been clouded with controversy and legal battles. The uncertainty surrounding the sale of the Golden Ball trophy has shed light on the various rumors and legends that have surrounded the disappearance and reappearance of the prestigious award.
The postponed auction of Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy has sparked a legal battle and investigation into the possible resale of stolen goods. The controversies surrounding the trophy’s history, including its disappearance and recent reappearance, have added fuel to the fire. The legal uncertainties and ongoing probe have cast a shadow over the auction process, leaving both buyers and sellers in a state of limbo. Only time will tell when the auction will finally take place and what the outcome will be for this iconic piece of football history.
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