Sotheby’s announced Monday that a set of six jerseys worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina’s winning 2022 World Cup run would be auctioned in December, with a value estimate of $10 million.
These shirts were worn by the footballer throughout the first half of the group-stage matches against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as later matches against Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia – and the final against France.
Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar last year was the final feather in the forward’s cap, after failing to win the title in the last four World Cups.
If the jerseys sell for more than $10 million, Sotheby’s estimates that the auction will be the most expensive collection of sports memorabilia ever sold.
The most expensive individual jersey ever sold at auction was one worn by basketball great Michael Jordan during his 1998 NBA finals run with the Chicago Bulls.
It sold for $10.1 million last year.
Sports memorabilia is a growing market that auction houses have noticed more in recent years.
The jerseys will be available for free public viewing from November 30 to December 14, when they go up for auction.