For more than 35 years, this blue jersey with the number 10 has had the sole owner of former England midfielder Steve Hodge. Inspired, he exchanged his Pibe de Oro at the end of the match the Argentine won (2-1) and remained one of the most controversial in World Cup history.

The former English player, who made it the title of his autobiography (The man in Maradona’s shirt) and handed the jersey to the National Football Museum in Manchester for display, still vowing at Maradona’s death the item is not sold and has incredible sentimental value. But the time seems to have come.

In Sotheby’s press release announcing the sale, Steve Hodge said the new owner will certainly be proud of the ownership this jersey, that has deep cultural significance for the world of soccer, to the Argentine people and to the English people.

Sotheby’s, which will be showcasing its venue in London during the internet sale (April 20 to May 4), has set a starting price at 4 million pounds, or more than $ 5.2 million, its manager for the expensive clothes and accessories, Brahm Wachter.

That’s slightly less than the 2019 record ($ 5.6 million) set at auction for a jersey worn by American baseball legend Babe Ruth with the New York Yankees in the late 1920s. Last year, a jersey was worn in the 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers star Jackie Robinson was sold for $ 4.2 million. In the collectibles market, soccer rarely competes with king sports in the United States, such as basketball, football or baseball.

On June 22, 1986, at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City, everything was decided within minutes of this quarter-final with symbols, four years after the war in the Falklands between the two countries.

In the 51st minute, just after the ball had deflected Steve Hodge in his place, the Argentinian captain got up in front of England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and seemed to score with his head, when he helped himself with his hand. hand of Godsaid Maradona after the meeting.

But four minutes later, the Argentinian redeemed himself. Starting with his defense, he eliminated four English players then Shilton after a spectacular drive and scores goal of the century. Maradona pushed, whose death at the age of 60 in 2020 caused mourning in the country, Argentina won its second World Cup in Mexico.

Last year, the Argentinians were invited by their soccer federation to celebrate the 35th anniversary of this legendary match, by playing the match commentator’s soundtrack at the same time as at the time. historically.

There may be a lot of demand in the market for this itembet by Brahm Wachter. It could be a museum, a club, a soccer lover or it could be just someone who wants the best of the best.

The story also goes that the Argentine shirts that day were bought at the last moment, because coach Carlos Bilardo was afraid that his players were too hot in their official uniforms.

A member of the coaching staff went to Mexico City to pick up a set of lighter jerseys, on which the AFA emblem was embroidered and the numbers of the players hurriedly applied and ironed on the back.