Sotheby’s has announced the auction of a set of six jerseys worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina’s triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign, estimating their value at $10 million. Messi showcased these jerseys during pivotal moments, including the group-stage rounds against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, and the final against France.
Argentina’s victory in Qatar marked a historic achievement for Messi, who had previously fallen short in four World Cup attempts. If the jerseys surpass the $10 million estimate, it could set a record as the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia ever auctioned.
The current record for the most expensive individual jersey sold at auction is held by basketball legend Michael Jordan’s jersey from the 1998 NBA finals with the Chicago Bulls, which fetched $10.1 million last year. Auction houses are increasingly recognizing sports memorabilia as a burgeoning market.
The jerseys are brought to auction by US tech startup AC Momento, which specializes in assisting athletes in managing their memorabilia collections. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the UNICAS Project, a Barcelona children’s hospital initiative aiding children with rare diseases.
These historic jerseys will be available for public viewing at no cost during the auction period, scheduled from November 30 to December 14.