Europol Warns Museum Heists across Europe are Becoming More Violent, "Hand of God" Soccer Ball Sells, and More: Morning Links for August 24, 2026

Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” soccer ball—an Adidas Azteca used during the 1986 World Cup—sold for £2.5 million (about $3.4 million) at auction, according to The Independent. Collected by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser after the match, the ball stayed in his possession for more than three decades. A prior attempt to resell it in 2022 brought £1.74 million, but that earlier effort failed; the most recent sale reportedly landed far below a £10 million estimate, with Heritage Auctions pricing it at $3.3 million. Elsewhere, Europol warned that museum heists across Europe are becoming more violent, with thieves increasingly targeting high-value cultural items and precious metals. In Estonia, artists donated 124 works after scammers stole nearly €700,000 from EKL, aiming to raise emergency funds.