But Maradona’s ex-wife Claudia Villafane stated it was “the word of that ex-player against ours” and said Hodge did not need to sell the historic garment.

“I don’t think he needs the money,unless he is auctioning it for a good cause,” she toldClarin newspaper. “It would be good if the Argentine Football Association bought it.”

Reuters has no way of independently verifying the family’s claims.

Sotheby’s also pointed to Maradona’s words from his autobiography Touched by God where he talked about handing the shirt he was wearing at the end of the match to Hodge.

The company also said the shirt had been in the National Football Museum for nearly two decades and there had never been a claim that it was not the one Maradona wore while scoring the goals.

Sincehe died of a cardiac arrest in November 2020 Maradona’s family has been involved in a series of scandals and court battles related to his legacy.

The 60-year-old former Napoli and Boca Juniors striker is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and is a hero to millions of people around the world,and particularly in Argentina.

The online auction runs between April 20 and May 4.

Reuters

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