The heirs of legendary soccer player Diego Maradona are taking legal action to stop the auction of a trophy he was awarded after the 1986 World Cup. The Golden Ball trophy, given to the tournament’s best player, had been missing for decades before resurfacing recently. Maradona’s heirs claim the trophy was stolen and argue that the current owner has no right to sell it. They plan to file a lawsuit to prevent the auction and request the trophy to be withdrawn and sequestered.
The auction house, Aguttes, stated that the trophy appeared among other lots acquired from a private collection in 2016. Various rumors surround the disappearance of the Golden Ball trophy, with some suggesting it was lost during a poker game or sold to pay off debts. Others believe Maradona stored it in a safe in a Naples bank that was later robbed by local gangsters. The heirs of Maradona, represented by lawyer Gilles Moreu, claim the trophy was stolen from the bank and want the sale to be banned.
Moreu, representing two daughters of Maradona, mentioned that the heirs only recently discovered that the trophy had been stolen. The heirs believe that the Golden Ball rightfully belongs to them and do not want it to be auctioned off. The auction house argues that the person who originally purchased the trophy was not aware it had been stolen, citing French ownership laws that protect individuals who acquire items in good faith. Bidders for the trophy will be required to make a deposit of 150,000 euros to participate in the auction scheduled for June 6.
The infamous “Hand of God” goal, in which Maradona infamously punched the ball into England’s net, and the “Goal of the Century,” where he dribbled past several defenders to score, were some of the highlights of Maradona’s career during the 1986 World Cup. The trophy was awarded to Maradona at a ceremony in Paris and then went missing, leading to speculation about its whereabouts. Maradona’s heirs, with the support of other family members, are determined to stop the auction of the Golden Ball trophy, believing that it rightfully belongs to them and was stolen from the former soccer star. The legal battle over the ownership of the trophy is ongoing, with both sides presenting their arguments.
The auction house maintains that they have conducted thorough research and checked with relevant authorities to verify the ownership of the trophy. Despite the claims from Maradona’s heirs, who allege that the trophy was stolen, the auction house asserts that there is no evidence to challenge the good faith and ownership of the current seller. The legal proceedings surrounding the auction of the Golden Ball trophy highlight the complexities of ownership rights and the challenges of proving the origins of valuable and historically significant items. As the legal battle continues, the fate of the trophy remains uncertain, with both parties adamant in their claims.
