A French court has ruled that the auction of the Golden Ball trophy awarded to the late Diego Maradona after the 1986 World Cup can proceed as planned, despite opposition from his heirs. The decision comes after Maradona’s heirs attempted to halt the auction by starting an urgent judicial procedure, claiming that the trophy was stolen and the current owner had no right to sell it.
The trophy, which was missing for decades before resurfacing recently, is set to be auctioned next Thursday in Paris by the Aguttes auction house. The court’s ruling was not in favor of Maradona’s heirs, who are now planning to lodge an appeal against the decision.
The president of the Nanterre court outside Paris considered the current owner of the trophy, identified as Mr. Benchaieb, to be acting in good faith. Benchaieb and Aguttes claim that when he purchased the trophy years ago, he was unaware that it had been stolen.
Maradona’s heirs expressed their disappointment with the court’s decision, stating that they want the unique piece of property back. The Golden Ball trophy was awarded to Maradona in 1986 for being the best player of the World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory with his iconic performances.
The auction house expects the trophy to fetch millions due to its uniqueness, and bidders will be required to make a deposit of 150,000 euros ($161,000) to participate in the auction. The trophy holds significant historical value, as it represents Maradona’s incredible talent and achievements on the football field.