Lionel Messi’s World Cup Shirts Fetch $7.8m at Sotheby’s Auction
Six of Lionel Messi’s shirts worn during the 2022 World Cup were sold for a combined $7.8m (£6.1m) at a recent Sotheby’s auction in New York.
Victorious Captain
Messi led Argentina to victory at the tournament, with his team defeating France in the final through a penalty shootout.
The six jerseys that were auctioned included those worn in the first half of the final, semi-final, quarter-final, last-16 tie, and two group games.
Record-Breaking Sale
The record for the highest price paid for a game-worn football shirt is currently held by Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ jersey, which sold for £7.1m in 2022.
Historic Achievement
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, made history by becoming the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final of a single tournament.
Although Messi played in all seven of Argentina’s matches during the 2022 World Cup, only two of the three shirts he wore during the group stage will be auctioned. This is because Heart of Midlothian’s Australia international Cammy Devlin exchanged shirts with Messi during the tournament.
Charitable Contribution
Sotheby’s announced that a portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Unicas Project, led by Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona Children’s Hospital with the support of the Leo Messi Foundation. The funds will be used to support children suffering from rare diseases.