A piece of football history changed hands this week as the ball used in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England was sold at auction for £2.5 million. The match is widely remembered for two of Diego Maradona's most iconic moments: the 'Hand of God' goal, where he punched the ball into the net, and his 'Goal of the Century,' where he dribbled past several English players to score.

The ball had been in the possession of Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian referee who officiated the match, for decades before being put up for sale. While the sale price reached millions, it fell short of some pre-auction estimates that had speculated the item could fetch as much as £3 million. The identity of the buyer has not been publicly disclosed by the auction house. The sale has reignited discussions among football fans regarding the legacy of the match, which remains one of the most debated games in the history of the sport due to the officiating controversy surrounding Maradona's first goal.