When it was believed that the two Golden Balls that he received Diego Maradona had been lost forever, news shook the fans: the award he obtained for having been the best player in the 86 World Cup in Mexico in which he won with Argentina reappeared, and will be auctioned. He had been robbed 35 years ago from a safe deposit box in a Naples bank and the crime was attributed to the Camorra. After moving their contacts in that underground world, Pelusa and his family managed to recover some valuable objects such as luxury watches, but the award vanished.
“It was not possible to recover it because it had already been melted. “I also sent a sum of 15 million lire to the place, but they returned it to me because the trophy was already gone.”knew how to declare Salvatore Lo Russoone of the leaders of the mafia, who encouraged the theory that it had been melted to sell the gold, the same theory that had spread to this day, until the fabulous discovery.
The item had been found by a French-Algerian named Abdelhamid B, a former gallery owner who was a fan of auctions. AND will be auctioned on June 6, 2024 in Aguttesa house specialized in the field, located in Paris. It is estimated that its price would be between 12 and 15 million euros.. The hypotheses about his fate all this time, of course, were triggered. Perhaps, when the Police returned the items, did some unfaithful member of the forces keep the most precious one? Did Lo Russo and his henchmen keep it hidden knowing that his courage would gain strength over the years? Is it, in fact, the real Ballon d’Or? And if so, in the case of a stolen object, will there be any judicial presentation by the star’s entourage so that it is returned to his heirs and does not end in a bid for wallets? All questions that still do not have answers.
The appearance also revived the story of the other Ballon d’Or received by the Ten: the statuette did not have a happy ending either. Maradona never won the award given by France Football magazine in a traditional way. And not precisely because he didn’t deserve it. In fact, in 1986, the peak of his career, the creditor was the Ukrainian Igor Belanov. Because? Due to an absurd regulation: until 1995, only European footballers could receive it.
In order to correct it, the publication decided to give him an honorary Ballon d’Or that year, from the legendary hands of Alfredo Distéfano. But the prize, which the idol’s family cared for like another son, was reduced to ashes.
In July 2014, The house where Don Diego lived in Villa Devoto suffered a fire, with a focus on the ground floor. “There was nothing left,” Pelusa’s entourage declared then. Among the lost material goods were several relics that represented different milestones in the history of the star. And the aforementioned Balón, who lived in the large room. Others were saved, like one of the UEFA Cups won with Napoli, which the Italian club gave its icon under guardianship. Although the tongues of fire reached her and left some marks on her, today she is sheltered in the home of one of the fantasist’s sisters.
“It happened first thing in the morning, I had already left, another colleague was there. It was a topic that greatly impacted the family, due to the history of the house and the things that were lost.“, he told Infobae Claudio vigi Langelottithe historic guardian of the chalet that was restored and today guards part of the legacy of the link.
In 2020, on the threshold of his 60th birthday, Maradona was excited to recover what the flames took from him. From France Football They asked him for an interview and the then technical director of Gimnasia La Plata agreed, although made it the only requirement to replace his Ballon d’Or. Or, at least, a replica. A gesture that the publication did not have with any other footballer in history. Yes, not even with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldothe top winners.
That was when the report almost fell into the abyss: as its representatives explained to Maradona’s inner circle, the magazine he had never ordered (and consequently, delivered) a copy of his Ballon d’Or. The award (weighs more than 7 kilograms) has a manufacturing cost of around 3,000 euros, is gold-plated, rests on a pyrite pedestal and six goldsmiths from a French workshop work on it.. However, finally, they agreed.
Indeed, an interview took place: for more than an hour, Diego reviewed his career, remembered the truncated negotiation with Olympique de Marseille in the 80s, when he was about to leave Napoli to move to France, and signed one of the so many phrases that over time became t-shirts; On that occasion, in reference to the match against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, which he painted with the varnish of eternity: “I dream of being able to score another goal for the English, this time with my right hand!”
But Maradona’s goodbye was hasty. And the fateful November 25, 2020 arrived, the day of his death. The long-awaited replica to complete the showcase remained a private promise. Until the icon’s stormy relationship with the Ballon d’Or added another chapter with the “resurrection” of the ’86 trophy.
