Six of Lionel Messi’s jerseys worn during the World Cup in Qatar were sold as a set for $7.8 million at an auction organized by Sotheby’s.
The jerseys included the iconic white and blue kit of Argentina, with which the legendary playmaker clinched the world title. Notably, the set does not include Messi’s jersey from the match against Poland in the group stage, where he wore a reserve purple kit.
Over a two-week period, the six jerseys were displayed at Sotheby’s office in New York, with bids accepted until Thursday. Only three offers were made, and the identity behind the $7.8 million bid remains undisclosed.
The winning bid for Lionel Messi’s six game-worn 2022 World Cup jerseys is $7.8 MILLION 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/FADmAYIaMB
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 14, 2023
Part of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to a hospital in Barcelona that treats children with rare diseases.
This auction marks the most expensive item related to Messi ever sold at auction. The only items from the world of sports that surpassed this price were possessions of Michael Jordan from the 1998 NBA Finals, which were sold for $10.1 million.