Messi's World Cup Shirt Sells for $7.82 Million

Lionel Messi’s shirt from the 2022 FIFA World Cup final recently sold for an impressive $7.82 million, although it falls short of the top price in sports memorabilia history, with several items from baseball and basketball fetching significantly higher amounts. Interestingly, Messi’s World Cup jerseys, while iconic, sold for less than a single jersey worn by Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup, which brought in $9.28 million.

Here’s a look at the top five sports memorabilia items sold at auction, with Messi’s jerseys just making the list.

Mickey Mantle’s 1952 Topps Trading Card
The most valuable sports memorabilia item to date, Mickey Mantle’s Topps #311 trading card sold for a record-breaking $12.5 million. This card, often considered the “holy grail” of baseball cards, represents the legacy of the former New York Yankees star, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game’s history.
Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Jersey
Worn by Jordan in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, this jersey sold for $10.091 million, setting the record for the most expensive sports jersey ever auctioned. Worn during the season known as “The Last Dance,” this jersey is a significant part of basketball history, representing the Chicago Bulls’ final title under Jordan’s leadership.
Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup Jersey
Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey, worn during his legendary 1986 World Cup match against England, sold for $9.28 million. This game remains memorable for Maradona’s controversial goal scored with his hand, as well as his dazzling solo goal minutes later. After the match, Maradona swapped the shirt with England’s Steve Hodge, and it has since become a sought-after piece of sports memorabilia.
Pierre de Coubertin’s 1892 Olympic Manuscript
This original manuscript by Pierre de Coubertin, outlining his vision for the modern Olympic Games, fetched $8.8 million at Sotheby’s in 2019. Written in 1892 and presented at the Sorbonne, this document laid the foundation for the Olympic Games as we know them today, making it one of the most influential pieces in sports history.
Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup Shirts
Rounding out the top five, Messi’s jerseys from Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign sold for $7.82 million. These jerseys were worn during key matches, including two group stage games, the round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semi-finals, and the epic final against France, where Messi scored twice in regular time and once in the penalty shootout to help secure Argentina’s third World Cup trophy.

These record-breaking sales highlight the cultural and historical significance of sports memorabilia, with each item embodying a moment of triumph, legacy, or transformative vision in the world of sports.