Maradona's daughter reveals soon to be auctioned 'Hand of God' jersey is fake

Football legend Diego Maradona's daughter has insisted that the Argentina jersey expected to fetch £4million at auction later this month is not the shirt he was wearing when he scored his famous double against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.

It was revealed on Wednesday that former England midfielder Steve Hodge was putting the shirt up for sale in a 'dedicated online action', with it also going on display in Sotheby's London showroom on Bond Street during the April 20-May 4 bidding period. 

Maradona's daughter Dalma told Radio Metro: 'That ex-England player thinks he's got my dad's second-half shirt but there's a confusion. He has the first-half top. I wanted to explain that to people so that whoever wants to buy it knows the truth.'

When asked who has the second-half shirt, she added: 'My mum hasn't got it. I know who has but I'm not going to say who's got it so as not to expose that person. 

'All I can say is that the one that's being auctioned is not the one my dad scored his goals with.'

Sotheby's responded to Dalma's claims on Thursday, insisting they were 'false'.

A spokeswoman said: 'There was indeed a different shirt worn by Maradona in the first half but there are clear differences between that and what was worn during the goals.

'Prior to putting this shirt for sale, we did extensive diligence and scientific research on the item to make sure it was the shirt worn by Maradona in the second half for the two goals.'

The shirt will put on sale in a dedicated online auction taking place between April 20 and May 4

She added: 'This object has clear provenance, it is being consigned by the man that kicked Maradona the ball on the Hand of God play.

'Maradona acknowledges the provenance himself, in his book 'Touched by God', and he recalls giving it to Steve Hodge.

'It's been in the National Football Museum for 20 years, where countless people have seen it. There has never been a claim that it's not the shirt.'

Sotheby's hired an expert outside firm to Photomatch the shirt that is being auctioned which had found 'multiple conclusive matches' to the one Maradona scored his two second-half goals with.

A catalogue note for the item states: 'Sotheby's worked with Resolution Photomatching in order to match the shirt to both goals examining unique details on various elements of the item, including the patch, stripes, and numbering.

'Resolution Photomatching did determine that Maradona switched shirts during the match, but that Maradona did wear this shirt for both historic goals in the second half of the match.'

After going into half-time at 0-0 in Mexico City, Maradona scored two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half to stun England.

The first was his infamous 'Hand of God' goal, for which the 5ft 5in forward outjumped England goalkeeper Peter Shilton by punching the ball into the net, with the officials inexplicably missing the clear foul play.

If that showcased the Argentine's mischievousness, then his second displayed his genius as Maradona dribbled past half the England team from the halfway line before slotting past Shilton. It was voted FIFA's Goal of the Century in 2002.

Maradona infamously said afterward that his first goal had been scored 'a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God.'

Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectables, said the two goals 'balance each other brilliantly' and reveal two facets of Maradona's character.

The first 'was really cunning and did involve an element of luck,' he said. 'But then he scored a second goal, which was one of the most unbelievable - almost angelic - goals ever.'

Argentina won the match 2-1 and went on to win the World Cup. Maradona, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, struggled with cocaine abuse and other excesses and died in November 2020 at age 60