Sotheby's revealed on Monday that, a collection of six jerseys worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign will be up for auction in December, with an estimated value of $10 million.
These shirts were worn by the football star in the first halves of matches during the group-stage rounds against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as in subsequent games against Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia. He also wore one in the final against France.
Last year's victory in Qatar marked a significant achievement for Messi, capping off his illustrious career, especially considering his previous attempts at securing the championship in four prior World Cups.
Source: CNBC
If the jerseys do indeed surpass the $10 million estimate, the sale could set a new record as the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia ever auctioned, according to Sotheby's. The highest price ever achieved for an individual jersey at auction was set by a jersey worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan during his NBA finals with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, which sold for $10.1 million last year.
In recent years, auction houses have become increasingly aware of the expanding market for sports memorabilia. The jerseys are being presented for auction by the US tech startup AC Momento, which helps athletes with the management of their memorabilia collections.
A share of the profits will be contributed to the UNICAS Project, an initiative affiliated with a children's hospital in Barcelona that supports children with rare diseases. The jerseys will be open for public viewing at no charge during the auction period, scheduled from November 30 to December 14.
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