The Story of Steve Hodge and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” Shirt

On June 22, 1986, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Argentina faced England. The match is legendary for two goals scored by Diego Maradona. The first was the infamous “Hand of God” goal, where Maradona punched the ball into the net. Ironically, the ball came to him after a defensive error by England midfielder Steve Hodge, who had attempted to clear the ball with a pass back to his goalkeeper. Unaware of the handball at the time, Hodge didn't protest the goal.

The moment when Diego Maradona flicks the ball with the hand past the outstretched arm of Peter Shilton.

Steve Hodge and Diego Maradona during match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in 1986.

Just a few minutes later, Maradona scored a goal of sheer genius—often referred to as the “Goal of the Century”—dribbling past almost the entire England team before slotting the ball home.

After the final whistle of Argentina’s 2-1 victory, as players were leaving the pitch and heading down the tunnel, Steve Hodge had a brief, chance encounter with Maradona. Recalling that his coach, Brian Clough, had once advised players to keep memorabilia from important matches, Hodge decided to seize the opportunity. He looked at Maradona and, with a gesture, asked to swap shirts. Maradona, who was walking with two teammates, came straight over and made the exchange.

Hodge took the iconic number 10 jersey and carried it back to the English locker room, an act that some of his teammates questioned given the bitter defeat.

For over 35 years, the shirt remained with Steve Hodge. For two decades, it was on display at the National Football Museum in Manchester, on a long-term loan. Hodge also wrote an autobiography titled The Man with the Maradona Shirt.

After Maradona’s death in 2020, Hodge received thousands of calls and offers to sell the shirt, but initially, he insisted it wasn’t for sale, citing its immense sentimental value. However, in 2022, he decided to put it up for auction.

The decision was not without controversy. Members of Maradona’s family, including his daughter Dalma, publicly claimed that the shirt Hodge possessed was not the one Maradona wore in the second half of the match (when he scored both goals), but rather the one from the first half. Sotheby’s, the auction house, countered these claims, stating they had conducted extensive scientific research and “photomatching” to authenticate that the shirt was, in fact, the one worn during the second half.

The auction went ahead, and on May 4, 2022, the shirt sold for a staggering £7.1 million (approximately $9.3 million), setting a world record for the highest price ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia.

Hodge has always maintained huge respect for Maradona, calling him the greatest player he ever faced. The shirt itself has become symbolic: it represents both the genius and the controversy of Maradona’s career. For many, it’s the most famous football shirt in history.