The torn match-worn shirt of Diego Maradona, which he wore while playing for Barcelona in the 1984 Spanish Cup final against Athletic Bilbao, was sold at auction for $179,207.67, Idman.Biz reports.
The winning bid itself amounted to $145,648.51, while the final price increased after a 23 percent auction house commission.
The lot has an unusual history. After the match, the shirt was taken by a member of the kit staff, but due to the damage it was not repaired and remained in private hands for many years before eventually appearing at auction.
That final went down in history as the “Battle of the Bernabeu”. Athletic won 1–0, and a mass brawl broke out after the final whistle, in which Maradona was involved and later received a lengthy suspension.
Interest in Maradona’s memorabilia remains extremely high. In 2022, his Argentina national team shirt from the 1986 World Cup was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $9.6 million.
