A football signed by 1990 World Cup champion Lothar Matthäus that survived the August 10 earthquake in Pereira, Colombia, is heading to a hybrid auction on October 3 to help rebuild the home of the parents of top-ranked Colombian badminton player Juliana Giraldo.
How the Matthäus Football Survived the Pereira Earthquake
The prized memorabilia item belonged to Juan Molina, one of the founders of the media outlet Relatos de Gambeta. Nine years ago, Molina interviewed Matthäus during a promotional event organized by the Bundesliga, receiving the signed football from the German legend as a keepsake. The ball became a fixture in Molina’s bedroom inside an apartment at the Invico building in Pereira, occasionally appearing in the background of his digital content.
On August 10, a destructive earthquake struck Pereira, causing the upper floors of the traditional Invico building to collapse and leaving the structure uninhabitable. The football remained trapped inside the fourth-floor apartment amid heavy rubble and family possessions. Nearly ten days later, authorities and building management permitted residents to return gradually for their belongings. The family recovered the Matthäus football largely intact.
Supporting Juliana Giraldo’s Olympic Ambitions
Rather than keeping the recovered keepsake, Relatos de Gambeta opted to donate the football to a fundraising initiative organized by Somos la Titular. Proceeds from the sale will directly support the reconstruction of the family home belonging to the parents of Juliana Giraldo. Giraldo, a 22-year-old athlete from Risaralda, currently stands as Colombia’s top-ranked badminton player in both singles and women’s doubles, with her sights set on representing her country at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Giraldo’s parents spent 17 years constructing their home before it was destroyed in the August disaster. The athletic star recently completed a stellar 2025 campaign in Spain, winning 20 of 22 matches and earning recognition as the top player in the Spanish badminton circuit while helping Huesca secure promotion to the División de Honor.
Auction Details and Public Participation
The charity auction is scheduled for October 3, with organizers offering both virtual participation and an in-person gathering at Beer Bar inside Mall Plaza in Bogotá. Alongside the Matthäus football, the event will feature various sports memorabilia items contributed to aid the Giraldo family’s housing recovery and support the athlete’s ongoing Olympic training cycle.
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