Lionel Messi’s Shirts to be Sold at Sotheby’s Auction for $10 Million
Sotheby’s is set to auction six shirts worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina’s successful run at the soccer World Cup in Qatar. The six shirts from the first half of matches will include the one Messi wore during Argentina’s dramatic win in the final against France. The auction house believes that these shirts could become the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia ever sold, with a potential price tag of over $10 million.
The auction will take place in New York between November 30 and December 14, with the shirts available for viewing at Sotheby’s New York headquarters throughout the bidding period. Sotheby’s is partnering with U.S.-based tech startup AC Momento, which collaborates with well-known athletes to manage their match-worn memorabilia.
Currently, Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey holds the record for the most valuable game-worn item of sports memorabilia, having sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York in September 2022. The highest sale for soccer memorabilia was Diego Maradona’s shirt from Argentina’s 1986 quarterfinal victory over England, where he scored one goal with his hand. The shirt sold for $9.3 million at Sotheby’s in London in May 2022. Winning the World Cup in 2021 allowed Messi to join Maradona as an all-time great in Argentine soccer history.
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to UNICAS Project, led by Sant Joan de Déu (SJD) Barcelona Children’s Hospital with the support of Leo Messi Foundation, benefiting children with rare diseases. Messi currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) after spending 17 years at Barcelona and winning multiple titles including Spain’s league and European Champions League titles along with eight Ballon d’Or titles awarded annually to top players worldwide.
Overall, this landmark success has made Messi’s shirts extremely valuable and highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
In conclusion, this upcoming auction promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans and collectors alike to own a piece of history while also supporting a good cause through proceeds going towards helping children with rare diseases through UNICAS Project led by Sant Joan de Déu (SJD) Barcelona Children’s Hospital and Leo Messi Foundation.