Sir Geoff Hurst was reunited with the ball from the 1966 World Cup final to commemorate the 50th anniversary of England's greatest footballing triumph.
Hurst, who netted three times in England's 4-2 win over West Germany, remains the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
"You see the ball occasionally," Hurst told a special BBC Radio 5 Live programme to mark the occasion. "(German midfielder) Helmut Haller stole it after the final - it was in Germany for 30 years - and they eventually brought it back from his loft in Germany during the Euros in 1996 and now it's safely in our museum in Manchester.
"It is such a priceless piece of memorabilia that anyone who touches it (has to wear white gloves).
Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup final
"Apparently anyone who won the World Cup can hold the ball without the gloves - Jimmy Greaves once said when he was told that, that 'if it gets nicked there's only our fingerprints on it'.
A gloveless Hurst then held the ball to cheers from the crowd at the SSE Arena at Wembley.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also present at the event and joked about Hurst's controversial second goal.
There has been much debate as to whether the first of the West Ham forward's two extra-time strikes crossed the line.
FIFA reluctantly introduced goal-line technology in time for the 2014 World Cup, and Infantino said: "I have the honour to be here together with you to celebrate this 50-year anniversary: 50 years not of the inception of goal-line technology, but 50 years of a great World Cup which was celebrated here in England.
"England welcomed the world and today, 50 years ago, 11 heroes made legend as England were crowned world champions."
