Brazilian champions prevail in hard-fought Women’s Champions Cup semi-final
A SHIRT worn by the late Diego Maradona during the infamous 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England was sold today at Sotheby’s for £7,142,500 — making it the world’s most valuable item of sports clothing in history.
Previously, the record price was for a New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth between 1928 and 1930 which was auctioned off for $5.64 million (£4.52m) in June 2019.
Following a two-week online auction, the 36-year-old blue Le Coq Sportif jersey, owned by former Nottingham Forest, Spurs and Leeds United midfielder Steve Hodge who swapped shirts with Maradona in the Estadio Azteca tunnel immediately after the game, has now surpassed that figure, selling for $9.3m.
Joao Pedro’s emotional goals against Fluminense captured the magic of an international club competition. But even as fans bring colour and passion, the Club World Cup’s deeper issues loom large, writes JAMES NALTON



