Diego Maradona’s heirs recently lost a legal bid in France to block the sale of his ‘Golden Ball’ trophy from the 1986 Mexico World Cup. The trophy, awarded to the tournament’s best player, had been missing for years before being found by an antique dealer in Paris. The auction for the trophy is set to take place on June 6 at the Aguttes auction house near Paris.
The Maradona family claims that the trophy, presented to Diego Maradona in 1986 at the Lido Cabaret in Paris, was stolen during a bank robbery in Naples three years later. However, the court in Nanterre found that there was no evidence of criminal proceedings filed by Maradona during his lifetime to support this claim. The family’s lawyers are appealing the court’s decision, arguing that the trophy rightfully belongs to Maradona’s five heirs.
In 2022, Maradona’s Argentina jersey from the 1986 tournament sold for nearly $9.3 million, while the infamous “Hand of God” ball from the quarter-final against England fetched $2.4 million. The lawyers representing the person who found the ‘Golden Ball’ and the auction house organizing the sale have argued that they acted in good faith. The antique dealer who acquired the trophy in 2016 claimed that he purchased it in a hardware lot consisting of hundreds of trophies, most of which had little value.
Gilles Moreu of the Paradox law firm insists that the trophy should be returned to Argentina as it was awarded to a football legend. The director of the auction house, Maximilien Aguttes, revealed that there are various legends surrounding the award, including one that suggests Maradona forgot the trophy at the Lido the night he received it. The public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a criminal complaint has also been filed in connection to the sale of the trophy.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the auction for Maradona’s ‘Golden Ball’ trophy is expected to proceed as scheduled. As one of the most iconic football players in history, Maradona’s memorabilia continues to attract significant interest from collectors and fans alike. The outcome of this case will not only determine the ownership of the trophy but also shed light on the complexities of preserving and valuing sports memorabilia in the modern era. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the legal proceedings unfold in the coming weeks.
