Can't Break The Record - Messi's Match-Worn 2022 World Cup Shirts Sell for $7.8M at Auction
Dec 15, 2023, by Phan Tich Giay
- Auction Sale: Messi's 2022 World Cup match-worn jersey collection sold for $7.8 million at auction, failing to break the record for game-worn sports memorabilia.
- Charity Donation: The $7.8 million from the auction of Messi's jerseys will be donated to the Sant Joan de Déu pediatric hospital in Barcelona.
- Items Auctioned: The auction consisted of 6 Messi match-worn jerseys from the 2022 World Cup, including the final, semi-final, and quarter-final matches.
Update: After a total of three auctions, the Messi match-worn 2022 World Cup jersey collection fetched a final price of $7.8 million at Sotheby's New York, including the buyer's premium.
Sotheby's had hoped that Messi's jersey would set an auction record for game-worn sports memorabilia, but that was not to be. The highest price ever paid for a jersey at auction remains the $10.1 million paid in September 2022 for Michael Jordan's Game 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals.
It should be noted that this amount will be allocated, by the decision of Leo Messi himself, to the Sant Joan de Déu pediatric hospital in Barcelona.
This time a year ago, Messi put in an outstanding performance in Qatar to help Argentina win their third World Cup. As a result, Messi's 2022 World Cup shirts are extremely valuable and Sotheby's is giving you the chance to own them by auctioning 6 shirts worn by Messi at the 2022 World Cup, including the shirt he wore in the final.
Sotheby's will auction 6 Messi match-worn 2022 World Cup shirts, including:
- First half of the Final
- Semi-final
- Quarter-final
- Round of 16
- Two of the three Group Stage matches (vs Arab Saudi; vs Mexico)
The Messi World Cup 2022 match-worn collection will be offered in a dedicated sale open for bidding from 30 November - 14 December. The extraordinary collection is estimated in excess of $10 million, with the sale poised to become the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia at auction.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to UNICAS Project, led by Sant Joan de Déu (SJD) Barcelona Children’s Hospital with the support of Leo Messi Foundation, to meet the needs of children suffering from rare diseases.
The current record for football memorabilia is the 'Hand of God' match worn by Maradona in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, which sold for $9.3 million at Sotheby's London in May 2022.
Speaking of sports in general, the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia sold at auction was Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals - known as the "Last Dance" season - which sold for $10.1 million in September 2022.
It remains to be if the Messi 2022 World Cup match-worn final can surpass Maradona and Michael Jordan as the highest-priced sports memorabilia of all time.
Messi's match-worn shirts from the 2022 World Cup will be auctioned on sothebys.com from 30 November.
Do you think Messi's 2022 World Cup match-worn shirt will break the record for the most valuable auctioned shirt, currently held by Maradona and Michael Jordan? Let us know in the comments below.
FIFA Did Not Publish 2026 World Cup Final Matchups Yet
It is just a little more than two days until the 2026 World Cup final and 45 hours until the Third Place match, but FIFA has not yet published the kit matchups for the final two games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on its official FWC2026 Match Colours Designation page.
It is widely predicted that Spain and Argentina will both wear their home kits, as will England vs France. We might also see special referee kits. Thanks to our partners Jersey Story for the collage.
Adidas EQT Flamengo 1992 Retro Collection Leaked
The t-shirt of the Adidas Flamengo 2026 EQT collection has been leaked by @ofertastorcida. It is white with the block stripes in red and black.
Adidas will release a special 1992 EQT retro range for Flamengo, as shared by specialized club outlet Coluna do Fla.
The Adidas Flamengo 1992 2026 retro collection features a striking vintage tracksuit and matching t-shirts that lean heavily into the club's early history and the bold sportswear aesthetics of the 1990s.
The predominantly red and black pieces prominently feature the classic Adidas Trefoil text logo alongside the historic Flamengo rowing crest, deliberately substituting the modern "CRF" monogram for the club's traditional anchor-and-oars emblem.
Which piece from this leaked Flamengo retro collection is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
Nike Atelier Total 90 Sneaker Leaked
Nike is expanding its bespoke Atelier lifestyle line with a clean White/Game Royal colorway for the Atelier Total 90 Premium.
Following the debut of a black Merc version originally created alongside French football star Désiré Doué, this new edition offers a lighter take on a Total 90 football-meets-lifestyle hybrid.
The upper of the Atelier Merc Total 90 faithfully recreates the iconic shape of the Total 90 Laser 3, crafted entirely from premium white leather with intricate quilted stitching. A standout feature is a classic fold-over tongue, which comes equipped with a practical Velcro closure and is subtly embossed with Nike Atelier branding. Underneath, the Nike Atelier T90 comes with the Cyroshot cover over the studs.
Priced at a luxury-tier $470, the Nike Atelier Total 90 Premium is scheduled for a December2026 release ahead of the 26-27 season. The shoe will be available through select high-end retailers, including Dover Street Market, as well as via Nike SNKRS.
