The Argentine national team jersey worn by the legendary footballer Diego Maradona in the semi-final of lthe 1986 World Cup It will be auctioned on August 22 at the house Sotheby’s New York with an estimated price between $800,000 and $1.2 million (€735,000 and €1.1 million).
Maradona (1960-2020) exchanged his shirt for the Belgian goalkeeper’s gloves Jean Marie Pfaff, who has kept the memory ever since, and after the two met again in 2016, the Argentine star wrote a dedication: “For the nice Jean Marie, with all my love,” details Sotheby’s.
“I have treasured this shirt for almost four decades“Since Diego and I exchanged things after that unforgettable semi-final. Competing against one of the greatest players in football was an honour but calling him a friend was even more special,” said the Belgian in a statement from the club.
Since 2023, Pfaff has exhibited the sweaty and signed shirt in his ‘El Sympatico Museum’ in the town of Beveren (Belgium), and before the auction, which opened today for online bidding, it can be seen at Sotheby’s headquarters in New York from July 26 to 30.
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Maradona’s shirt is one of the jewels of a sports auction of cultural iconsincluding Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal, who is offering a racket that he used in 2006 at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and a pair of shoes that he used in 2014 at the Australian Open.
Apart from that, the most expensive item in the sale is the NBA star’s locker Kobe Bryant at the Staples Center (up to $1.5 million), followed far behind by the shorts worn by Michael Jordan in his retirement basketball game (up to $250,000).
