A Michael Jordon 1998 match-worn jersey is the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia in the world priced at £8.074m. Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup final shirt could break that record.
How much is Messi’s shirt?
Six of Messi’s 2022 World Cup shirts are set to go under auction at Sotheby’s in New York – including the ones worn in the final triumph against France and the semi-final against Croatia.
As part of the collection, there will also be the quarter-final versus the Netherlands, the round-of-16 match against Australia, and two shirts from three group-stage matches.
His shirts will be on offer in New York between November 30 and December 14. They are expected to become the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia ever with a projected price of over £8m.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, said: “The 2022 FIFA World Cup stands as one of the greatest events in sports history, intrinsically connected to Messi’s valiant journey and firmly establishing his status as the greatest player of all-time.
“The sale of these six shirts stands as a monumental occasion in auction history, offering fans and collectors a connection to Messi’s crowning achievement.
“It is an honour for Sotheby’s to present and exhibit these invaluable collectables to the public, which encapsulate the sheer brilliance of a player who has redefined the boundaries of football excellence.”
Top 5 most expensive sports memorabilia
The global sports memorabilia market will be worth $227.2 billion by 2032, up from $26.1 billion in 2021. Popularity has certainly grown in wanting to own sports memorabilia but what are the top 5 most expensive pieces in the world of sports?
5. Babe Ruth 1928-30 jersey (£4.51 million)
Legendary American baseball player Babe Ruth’s two-year-spanning jersey sold for £4.51 million in 2019 which has put Ruth into the top 5…for now.
4. Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle championship belt (£4.94 million)
Muhammad Ali’s championship winning belt from 1974 sold for £4.94 million in 2022. It had previously been sold in 2017 for £96k – a year after Ali’s death.
3. Original Olympic Games manifesto (£7.03 million)
Who’d believe pieces of paper with writing on would sell for so much? In 2019, it sold for just over £7 million. The handwritten copy of de Coubertin’s 1892 presentation served as a manifesto and it had never been publicly shown before the 2019 auction.
2. Diego Maradona Hand of God jersey (£7.42 million)
Two Argentine footballers could be on this list by the end of the year. One of the most iconic moments in football history. In 1986, Diego Maradona scored with his hand to knock England out of the World Cup. His shirt sold for £7.42 million back in 2022.
1. Michael Jordan 1998 game-worn jersey (£8.07 million)
The leader, at least for now, is legendary Basketballer Michael Jordon. The jersey Jordon wore in Game 1 of the 1998 finals sold for £8.07 million in 2022—over twice its estimated value.
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