A new documentary investigates claims that Diego Maradona's iconic 1986 World Cup shirt was purchased at a market in Mexico City [1].
The film, titled "El Diez: Made in Tepito," examines a little-known chapter of football history that challenges the provenance of one of the sport's most valuable artifacts. If the claim is true, it suggests that a piece of sporting history was sourced from a street market rather than official team channels.
Director Phidel McCabe explores the theory that the Argentine team had run out of spare jerseys during the tournament. According to the investigation, the shirt was bought in the Tepito district, a sprawling market area in Mexico City [1], [2].
"You can find literally anything," McCabe said [3].
The documentary tracks how the garment moved from the streets of Tepito into the global collectors' market. This journey eventually culminated in a high-profile sale, where the shirt fetched between $9 million [3] and $9.28 million [2] at auction.
The film seeks to uncover the mystery of how the shirt entered the market and the specific events that led to its acquisition in Mexico. By focusing on the Tepito district, the production highlights the intersection of street commerce and elite sports memorabilia, a contrast that defines the shirt's unusual history [1], [2].
“"You can find literally anything."”
The investigation into the shirt's origins highlights the volatile nature of sports memorabilia valuation. By linking a multimillion-dollar asset to a street market in Mexico City, the documentary underscores how provenance—the record of ownership—can be obscured or contested, potentially impacting the perceived authenticity and historical narrative of legendary sporting items.
