Sotheby’s announced on Monday that a set of six jerseys worn by Lionel Messi (36) during Argentina’s triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign will be auctioned in December, with an estimated value of $10 million (£8m).
Messi sported these jerseys in the first halves of group-stage matches against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as later games against Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and the final against France.
Argentina’s victory in Qatar marked a significant achievement for Messi, who had previously fallen short in four World Cup attempts. If the jerseys surpass the $10 million estimate, the sale could become the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia ever auctioned, according to Sotheby’s.
The most expensive individual jersey ever sold at auction belonged to basketball legend Michael Jordan, worn during his NBA finals run with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. It fetched $10.1 million (£8.1m) last year, highlighting the increasing recognition of sports memorabilia as a growing market for auction houses.
The shirts are presented for auction by US tech startup AC Momento, which assists athletes in managing memorabilia collections. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the UNICAS Project, supporting a Barcelona children’s hospital focused on helping kids with rare diseases.
The jerseys will be available for free public viewing during the auction period from November 30 to December 14th.
