The collection of jerseys worn by Lionel Messi during the 2022 World Cup is expected to be sold for a minimum of 10 million USD. The collection includes six jerseys worn by Messi in six matches during the tournament in Qatar last year, with the most valuable being the jersey worn in the final against France. Sotheby’s auction house will open the bidding in New York, aiming to fetch at least 10 million USD, and a portion of the proceeds will be allocated to charitable purposes.
“The 2022 World Cup is one of the greatest sporting events in history, intertwined with Lionel Messi’s courageous journey, affirming his position as the greatest player of all time. The auction of these six jerseys is a magnificent event in the history of auctions, providing fans and collectors with the opportunity to connect with Messi’s glory,” said Brahm Wachter, Head of Sotheby’s Contemporary Collecting Department.
Specifically, the jerseys in the collection include the one Messi wore in the first half of the final, the semi-final against Croatia, the quarter-final against the Netherlands, the round of 16 against Australia, and two out of three group stage matches.
If sold for more than 10.2 million USD, Messi’s jersey set will set a world record for the most valuable sports memorabilia in history. The current record belongs to the basketball jersey worn by the legendary Michael Jordan in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the season marking Jordan’s last appearance for the Chicago Bulls. This jersey was sold for 10.14 million USD in September of last year at Sotheby’s in New York.
Currently, the record for the most valuable football jersey belongs to the jersey Diego Maradona wore in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals when he scored the famous “Hand of God” goal. In last year’s auction, an anonymous buyer spent 8.9 million USD to acquire this jersey from former England midfielder Steve Hodge.
Comparing with famous figures outside of sports, Messi’s jersey is also highly valued. The most valuable music memorabilia is Kurt Cobain’s legendary rock guitar from the 1993 MTV Unplugged show, sold for 5.3 million USD in 2020.
Currently, the highest-priced Messi jersey is the one he wore in the 2017 El Clásico. At that time, the Argentine captain scored in injury time, helping Barca beat Real 3-2. This jersey was sold for 450,000 USD.
Messi was named the Best Player of the 2022 World Cup, serving as a crucial inspiration in leading Argentina to the final with five goals and three assists, directly contributing to eight out of the 12 goals his team scored from the group stage to the end of the semi-finals. In the final, Messi continued to leave his mark by scoring two goals, including the opening penalty, and orchestrating the play that led to the remaining goal. He also confidently took the first penalty kick in the shootout, boosting the morale of his teammates, resulting in Argentina’s 4-2 victory.