On November 30th, The Action Network released news that a whopping price of 5.2 million dollars had been placed on a sports jersey. The total bid amount reached 6.3 million USD when factoring in the buyer’s insurance fee. These jerseys are currently being auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York City, and the expected bidding price is set to increase until the auction ends on December 14th.
The initial bid for Messi’s World Cup 2022 jersey was set at $5.2 million, surpassing the previous bids for sports legends such as Kobe Bryant’s MVP jersey from the 2007-2008 season ($5.8 million), Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees jersey from 1928-1930 ($5.6 million), and LeBron James’ NBA Finals Game 7 jersey from 2013 ($3.6 million).
This bid for Messi’s jersey could potentially break records set by Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ jersey, which sold for $9.3 million, and Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey, which sold for $10.1 million.
The collection includes two jerseys worn by Messi during the group stage, while the other four were worn during the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and his victorious moment in the Final against France. Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his World Cup victory is considered the most precious jewel in his career.
In the World Cup, Messi scored seven goals and made three assists to lead Argentina to victory. This incredible performance showcased his immense talent and helped solidify his place among the greatest players in football history. The image captured by Getty Images shows the determination and skill Messi brought to the tournament, inspiring his team to reach new heights and claim the ultimate prize.
Six sets of Messi’s game-worn jerseys are currently up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York until December 14th. The 36-year-old striker led the Argentina national team to the highest peak of the world by scoring seven goals and three assists, including two goals in an emotional final match. In addition to helping Argentina win their first World Cup since 1986, Messi was also awarded the Ballon d’Or as the tournament’s best player and the Silver Boot as the second-highest scorer after France’s Kylian Mbappé.
After the World Cup, Messi left Europe to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Since then, he has helped the club win its first cup with the Leagues Cup championship and was also awarded his eighth Ballon d’Or for his impressive performances in Qatar.
