Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup Jerseys Up For Auction

Lionel Messi‘s jerseys from Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign are set to be auctioned off in December 2023, Naija News understands.

The auction is expected to raise millions of dollars, with proceeds going to charity. Messi is said to have worn six different jerseys during the World Cup, including the one he wore in the final against France. The jerseys are all signed by Messi and have a certificate of authenticity.

Lelands, a leading sports memorabilia auction house, is organizing the auction. Lelands had previously auctioned off jerseys worn by legendary athletes, including Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, and Mickey Mantle.

Messi is a global icon, and his jerseys will indeed be coveted by fans and collectors alike. The proceeds from the auction will go to the FC Barcelona Foundation, which provides educational and social programs to children in need.

Naija News understands that Messi wore all the said jerseys during the first halves of the group-stage matches against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as in later games against Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia and the final match against France, which marked Argentina’s winning streak in Qatar last year.

According to Sotheby’s, if Messi’s jerseys fetch above $10 million, it would make it the most valuable sports memorabilia ever auctioned off. The current record for the most expensive individual jersey sold at auction is basketball legend, Michael Jordan’s jersey from his NBA finals run with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, which sold for $10.1 million last year.

Auction houses have recognized the growing market for sports memorabilia in recent years. The jerseys being auctioned off are brought by US tech startup AC Momento, which assists athletes in managing their memorabilia collections.

Reports said that Messi’s jerseys will be available for public viewing free of charge during the auction period, from November 30 to December 14