Lionel Messi’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory was one of the greatest moments in modern football history, as the former Barcelona great took the only trophy left in his amazing career. He had such an influence on the tournament that he got the Golden Ball award and finished as the tournament’s second-highest goal-scorer.
According to Sotheby’s, a set of six jerseys that Messi wore during his World Cup title run last year sold for $7.8 million at an auction on Thursday. This figure made the jerseys the second most costly jerseys ever sold at auction and the highest price ever for any Messi item. The jerseys from the World Cup final against France were also among the sold jerseys.
The first-half jersey from Argentina’s final group stage match against Poland and the second-half jersey, which was probably traded with opponents, are the only ones missing.
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,” Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said.
Michael Jordan’s jersey from the first match of the 1998 NBA Finals created a record as the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia item ever sold, costing $10.1 million last year.