Dec 14, 2023 at 7:57 PM Update: a day ago
Six shirts worn by Lionel Messi at the World Cup in Qatar have been auctioned for more than 7 million euros. The Argentinian star crowned himself world champion in one of the shirts.
The international auction house Sotheby’s confirmed the proceeds of 7.8 million dollars (7.1 million euros) to the French news agency on Thursday. AFP. Three bids were placed for the six shirts. Part of the proceeds goes to an initiative that supports children with rare diseases.
Never before has an object belonging to 36-year-old Messi been sold for so much money. According to Sotheby’s, not much has been paid for sports memorabilia at auction this year. Messi saw his long-cherished dream come true with the world title in Qatar.
Messi’s shirts are not the most expensively sold sporting items ever. The record is held by basketball legend Michael Jordan, whose shirt has sold for 9.1 million euros. And 8.2 million euros was once paid for a shirt that Diego Maradona wore in the legendary match against England at the 1986 World Cup.
On his way to the world title, Messi defeated the Dutch national team with Argentina. In a heated quarter-final, the future world champion won via penalties against the team of then national coach Louis van Gaal.
Lionel Messi’s six auctioned shirts. Photo: AFP
Beeld: Getty Images
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