World's Most Bitter Man Peter Shilton Says He'd Have Ripped Up £7 Million Diego Maradona Shirt

Diego Maradona's shirt from the 1986 World Cup quarter final was sold for £7 million but it shouldn't have got out of the England dressing room in one piece according to Peter Shilton.

Maradona scored two of the most famous World Cup goals, for very different reasons as Argentina knocked England out of the competition 38 years ago.

One of the goals is considered one of the best in the history of the World Cup but arguably the most remembered was the 'Hand of God' goal, as the diminutive South American out jumped England goalkeeper Shilton to punch the ball into the goal.

Shilton has never really been able to let it go, even managing to dismiss the legend's 'sportsmanship' in the immediate aftermath of his death in November 2020.

So it's probably no surprise that the news of Maradona' shirt that day being sold by Shilton's former England teammate, Steve Hodge, for £7.1 million has left the former keeper claiming he'd never have let it out the changing room in one piece, if he'd known Hodge had it.

"I wouldn't even use it around the house, not even to clean the dishes in my bungalow," the 72-year-old told the Sun.

Hodge, who sold the shirt, played the ball back towards Shilton, with Maradona pouncing to punch the ball home. Image: PA Images

"If myself and a few of the other players had known Hodgey had his shirt in the dressing room then it wouldn't have made it out.

"In the heat of the game, it would have been ripped up into a thousand pieces — and I bet Hodgey is happy now we didn't do that.

"He knew what he was doing when he didn't tell us he had it. We were very angry, it's just as well we didn't. I'm just glad one Englishman has got something out of the game."

Maradona got past Shilton for the other goal on the day. Image: PA Images

The Argentine FA had wanted to get the shirt off Hodge and had wanted to display it in an exhibition in October to commemorate what would have been Maradona's birthday.

There has been talks that they will seek out the anonymous buyer in order to try and strike a deal so they can still do that, which most people would think would be a nice thing.

Shilton on the other hand sees the fact that Argentina haven't got the shirt as some sort of 'win,' which just shows how extremely bitter he is.

"We've had the last laugh," the former keeper added on the shirt not being in South America, "It's poetic justice for being cheated out of that World Cup."

Just let it go lad, it was nearly 40 years ago!

Topics: Diego Maradona, Argentina, England, Football World Cup

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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