£5.5m bid for Beckham Euro ball

The ball that David Beckham blasted into the stands when he missed a penalty in England's Euro 2004 defeat by Portugal has attracted a bid of more than £5.5 million on an internet auction site.

Beckham's wild spot-kick contributed to his side's quarter-final elimination, and collectors believe it is worth fighting for the ultimate memento of a moment the England captain would rather forget.

Spanish football fan Pablo Carral, 25, who claimed the trophy when it landed in his arms in Row Q of the Luz stadium in Lisbon, put the ball up for sale on the Spanish site of internet auctioneers eBay after a British newspaper offered to buy it for £12,000.

The ball, embossed with the names of the teams, the date and match venue, went on sale on Monday at a starting price of one euro. But after 48 hours it had reached e8.3 million - though many bids are thought to have been made in jest.

The online auction will remain open until 22 July.