Messi’s Historic Jerseys: Breaking Auction Records and Making Football History
Lionel Messi’s iconic World Cup final shirt is expected to fetch an unprecedented amount at auction, setting a new record
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain, Lionel Messi, is once again setting records, but this time in the field of sports memorabilia.
According to World Soccer Talk, Messi’s shirts from the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, which saw Argentina win the title for the first time in 37 years, are predicted to fetch an unprecedented amount at auction, possibly setting a record for sports auction history.
Messi’s World Cup jerseys, which include six of the Argentina uniforms he wore during the 2022 World Cup, are expected to fetch more than $10 million at auction, according to Guardian Sport on X.
This expected sum is on track to break the record for the most expensive sports memorabilia ever sold at auction. Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey, which sold for $10.1 million earlier this year, currently holds the record.
Messi is expected to Surpass Maradona’s Record
Regarding football jerseys, another Argentine, Diego Maradona, currently holds the record for the most expensive memorabilia, with his “Hand of God” kit selling for $9.32 million last summer.
This record is likely to be broken by Messi’s shirts, particularly the one he wore against France in the World Cup Final, underscoring the enormous value and historical significance associated with these artifacts.
Sotheby’s is handling the World Cup kit auction for Messi; all six shirts are up for bid as a bundle, with the winning bidder taking home the full set.
It’s interesting to note that Messi, like many players, switches shirts at halftime, so each of these is from the first halves of the World Cup matches. This auction honors Messi’s outstanding performance in Qatar, where he won the best player award at the competition and solidified his status as one of the all-time greats.
The UNICAS Project, an effort spearheaded by the Barcelona Children’s Hospital Sant Joan de Jeu to combat rare diseases affecting children, will receive a portion of the auction proceeds. This action gives the auction a philanthropic touch and highlights Messi’s dedication to giving back to the community.
These jerseys are more important than they are expensive. They encapsulate Messi’s incredible journey in the sport and stand for his greatest accomplishment as a player.
Acquiring these jerseys is more than just obtaining a piece of sports history for supporters and collectors; it’s about holding a representation of Messi’s legendary career and his impact on football.
A new chapter in the history of sports memorabilia is opened by Sotheby’s auction of Lionel Messi’s World Cup jerseys, which brings together the domains of philanthropy, history, and sports.
