GUWAHATI: Six shirts worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina's victorious campaign at the 2022 World Cup were sold for a staggering $7.8 million at an auction held on December 15, in New York, media reports stated.
The auction, reportedly conducted by Sotheby's, revealed that the price for this set of shirts broke the previous record for the sale of items associated with the football legend, making it the most valuable sporting memorabilia auctioned in the current year. Among the shirts auctioned was the one worn by Messi during the first half of the final against France in Qatar.
Sotheby's Head of Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said while talking to the media, “These historic shirts are not only a tangible reminder of one of the most important moments in the history of sports but are principally connected to the pinnacle moment in the career of the most decorated football player in history".
Displayed at Sotheby's New York headquarters throughout the two-week online auction, which concluded on December 14, the shirts fetched a huge sum. The winning bidder's information has not been disclosed. Sotheby's mentioned that a portion of the proceeds from the auction would be contributed to the UNICAS Project. Led by Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's Hospital with the backing of the Leo Messi Foundation, the project aims to aid children suffering from rare diseases.
Lionel Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami in the MLS, spent an illustrious 17 years at Barcelona and has clinched the Ballon d'Or, awarded annually to the sport's premier player, a record eight times. While Sotheby's had anticipated that the Messi shirts might establish an auction record for game-worn sports memorabilia, this benchmark was not achieved.
In the World Cup final, Argentina emerged victorious over France in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw, securing its third World Cup title. Messi, scoring two of Argentina's three goals, experienced a triumphant moment in the career of one of the sport's greatest-ever players.
Michael Jordan’s jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Final holds the record for the highest price paid for a game-worn sports memorabilia item, fetching $10.1 million last year.