According to Sotheby, the world’s biggest dealer of modern collectables, on Monday, Lionel Messi’s set of six jerseys he wore during Argentina’s victorious 2022 FIFA World Cup will be auctioned in December at an estimated value of $10 million.
Messi, Inter Miami’s star, donned these shirts during the first halves of the group-stage rounds against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as later games against Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia — and the final against France.
“The 2022 FIFA World Cup stands as one of the greatest events in sports history, intrinsically connected to Messi’s valiant journey and firmly establishing his status as the greatest player of all time,” Sotheby said.
“The sale of these six shirts stands as a monumental occasion in auction history, offering fans and collectors a connection to Messi’s crowning achievement. It is an honour for Sotheby’s to present and exhibit these invaluable collectables to the public, which encapsulate the sheer brilliance of a player who has redefined the boundaries of football excellence.”
Argentina’s winning run in Qatar last year was the final feather in the forward’s cap, having failed to secure the championship in four previous World Cups.
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The $10 million valuation of the jerseys is the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia ever auctioned off, Sotheby’s said.
The most expensive individual jersey ever sold at auction was one that basketball legend Michael Jordan wore during his NBA finals run with the Chicago Bulls in 1998.
It sold for $10.1 million last year.
Auction houses have increasingly taken note of sports memorabilia in recent years, considered a growing market.
US tech startup AC Momento is bringing the shirts to auction, which helps athletes manage memorabilia collections.
The jerseys will be available for free public viewing when they are up for auction, from November 30 to December 14.
