Messi's Shirts in the 2022 World Cup May Set a Record at Auction

Sotheby's auction house has revealed that the six shirts worn by Argentine star Lionel Messi during Argentina's victorious journey in the 2022 World Cup are expected to become "the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia" when bidding starts later this month. The collection includes the shirt he wore in the first half of the final in Qatar. Bids on the light blue and white shirts will open from November 30 to December 14, coinciding with a public exhibition showcasing the collection. The auction house explained that "the extraordinary value of the collection is estimated to exceed $10 million, and it is expected to become the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia at auction." Furthermore, "a portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to the Unicas project led by the Sant Joan de Déu Children's Hospital in Barcelona, supported by the Leo Messi Foundation, to meet the needs of children suffering from rare diseases." Michael Jordan's jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals currently holds the record for the highest price paid for a piece of sports memorabilia worn in a game, having reached $10.1 million last year.