Famous footballers and their families were searching for their memorabilia today after the world record £7.1million sale of Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt.
Experts said the 1986 World Cup strip of the Argentina legend deserved the price tag because of its place in history.
It made ex-England ace Steve Hodge, who owned the jersey having swapped it with Maradona after his team’s quarter final defeat, an instant multi-millionaire.
And there are iconic football kits that may yet make millions, including England’s 1966 World Cup winners.
The Wembley final shirts and medals of Jack and Sir Bobby Charlton have not been sold, despite most of their teammates cashing in to support loved ones.
Jack’s medal and iconic red strip were valued as part of his estate when he died two years ago. Its worth was estimated then at up to £200,000.
But that may soar thanks to the sale of the Maradona shirt. And its value would certainly rocket if sold alongside that of his brother, Man Utd legend Sir Bobby, 84.
Jack’s son John, 63, of Ponteland, Newcastle said: “I still cannot believe that Maradona’s shirt has sold for more than £7m, that is a ridiculous amount of money for a football shirt.
“At the moment, the value of memorabilia is going through the roof. I am totally and utterly perplexed by it. What makes a shirt that valuable?
“But good luck to Steve Hodge.”
Hodge, 59, decided to cash in on by selling the shirt at Sotheby’s.
It became the most valuable piece of memorabilia in sporting history, beating the original Olympic manifesto, written in 1892, which sold for £7m three years ago.
However, the shirt worn by Sir Geoff Hurst as he netted a hat-trick to win England their only World Cup failed to sell at auction in 2016.
Expected to fetch up to £500,000, Sotheby’s said the bidding failed to meet the reserve price despite “a great deal of interest” from collectors.
Tina Moore, the first wife of England captain Bobby Moore, who died from cancer in 1993 aged 51, sold his memorabilia to West Ham in 2000, reportedly for more than £1.4m.
And Sir Geoff also received about £150,000 when he sold his World Cup medal to the Hammers in 2001.
Hodge has yet to comment on the sale of the shirt, and was not at home in Nottingham when the Mirror called.
