Shilton shirt from ‘Hand of God’ match in 1986 to be sold

The shirt Peter Shilton wore to the 1986 World Cup’s “Hand of God” game against Argentina will be up for auction, with an estimated sale price of up to £300,000.

Diego Maradona lifted the ball over Shilton in one of the most famous games in the history of the competition to give his nation a lead.

The South American team’s captain dribbled past several England players from his own half, which is widely considered one of the greatest goals of all time four minutes later.

Maradona’s No 10 shirt from the game sold for a record sum of money in May of 2022 at auction for £7.1 million.

When asked if the midfielder had made a mistake in attempting to score the opener, he responded that it was “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

Tops from earlier games in the tournament were discounted as part of the authentication process, according to Graham Budd Auctions’ David Convery, of Graham Budd Auctions.

It has a wee bit of a whiff to it when it comes off his back in 1986, as you can imagine.

The material has some pulls and snags, but overall, it’s in excellent condition.

When the BBC contacted him, Shilton declined to be interviewed. He went on to earn a record 125 caps for his nation.

However, Maradona’s second goalkeeper, Peter Reid, refers to the shirt as a reminder of a special game.

The former midfielder spoke about the intense build-up with the world’s media outside the team hotel for their first game since the Falklands War in the early 1990s when he spoke at the Manchester National Football Museum.

It’s an iconic game when you combine the handball, the second goal, Maradona’s persona. It should be called that, I suppose.

Bobby Robson, the manager of England, was not great at using names. He gave him the name Madonna.

Reid repeats the story, “He went past me, played a one-two.”

Shilts seemed to be getting it, I thought. I observed the handball as he turned around. Maradona did it admirably. You might say it was cute.

The ground erupted [with fans cheering], and I realized he had given it. The referee was pursued by Glenn Hoddle, Terry Fenwick, Shilts, and I.

Reid describes witnessing Maradona’s second goal come into life as “being in a dream” as he forlornly chased.

“He was just too quick,” he said. When you re-evaluate, Hoddle is fouled, it isn’t given, and Maradona is gone.

Even with the pitch being terrible and covered in potholes, “His touch and pace was staggering.” He simply rushed too quickly.

I just clapped as a substitute from the stand at the far end of the stadium, “Anderson interjects.”

The 1958 World Cup medal won by Pele, which is up for sale, is one of the items that will be auctioned as part of the same event, which is expected to fetch up to £500,000.

The medal worn by Gordon Banks in 1966 is estimated to sell for around £300,000, while Alan Ball’s shirt is anticipated to fetch around £200,000.