A set of six shirts worn by Lionel Messi throughout Argentina’s spectacular 2022 FIFA World Cup journey is likely to make its mark in sports memorabilia auctions, presenting a historic chance. These legendary jerseys, including the one worn in the final victory over France, are set to be auctioned off at Sotheby’s in New York. With bids reaching $6.5 million and a projected record-breaking sale of $10 million, these shirts have the potential to outperform the current high point for sports memorabilia, set by a Michael Jordan jersey, and potentially surpassing the £7.1 million value of Diego Maradona’s revered 1986 World Cup shirt.

This limited edition collection captures key events from the competition, including group stage battles, the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the championship match. Messi’s outstanding play during the World Cup campaign resulted in a remarkable tally of seven goals and three assists, winning him the famous golden ball as the tournament’s best player and the silver boot as the tournament’s second-highest scorer.

Messi personally described the significance of the victory in an accompanying statement, stating how this achievement fulfilled a longtime desire within a career adorned with countless triumphs, including multiple titles with Barcelona and key national trophies with Argentina. Beyond their historical significance in domestic cups and the World Cup, these shirts carry emotional significance, prompting a pledge to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Unicas project, led by Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital in collaboration with the Leo Messi Foundation.

These World Cup jerseys, worn during the first halves of their respective matches, are more than just sports memorabilia; they embody Messi’s extraordinary journey and represent a tremendous altruistic gesture. Their possible sale has the potential to reshape the landscape of sports auctions while also representing Messi’s indelible mark on football history and his devotion to making a difference in people’s lives outside of football.