Game-worn sports jerseys have evolved from simple athletic mementos into multi-million-dollar fine art assets, with a rare Chicago Bulls jersey worn by Michael Jordan fetching 14 million dollars (approximately 12.1 million euros) in a private sale announced by Hunt Auctions.
The transaction places Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey as the second most expensive piece of sports memorabilia in history. According to records, the red number 23 jersey was worn by Jordan during the June 5, 1998, matchup against the Utah Jazz, where the Chicago Bulls secured a victory to tie the series before claiming Jordan’s sixth and final NBA title.
Babe Ruth Leads Historic Memorabilia Sales
At the very top of the market sits a piece of baseball history tied to New York Yankees icon Babe Ruth. The jersey Ruth wore during the 1932 World Series—specifically associated with his legendary “called shot” against the Chicago Cubs—sold in August 2024 for 24.12 million dollars, or roughly 20.8 million euros. The astronomical price reflected the item’s pristine state of preservation, exceptional provenance, and its direct connection to the golden era of American baseball, nearly doubling the valuation of Jordan’s runner-up jersey.
Michael Jordan Captures Multiple Top Tier Spots
Beyond the recent 14 million dollar private acquisition by Miami real estate investor Ron Firman, another Jordan jersey worn during the third game of those same 1998 Finals reached 12.26 million dollars (about 10.6 million euros) in a September 2026 sale. An earlier jersey from the first game of that series had already crossed the ten-million-dollar threshold back in 2022.
These figures highlight a persistent cultural fascination fueled heavily by archival retrospectives like the documentary series The Last Dance.
Diego Maradona and the 1986 World Cup Legacy
Shifting from North American sports to international football, Diego Maradona occupies the fourth position in the global rankings. The iconic blue Argentina shirt worn by Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England in Mexico City changed hands at auction in 2022 for approximately 9.3 million dollars (around 8 million euros). The garment’s value is inextricably bound to two of the most scrutinized and celebrated plays in football history: the Hand of God goal and the Goal of the Century, where Maradona dribbled past nearly the entire English side.
For decades, that specific shirt remained in the possession of English midfielder Steve Hodge, who swapped jerseys with the Argentine captain on the pitch immediately after the final whistle. That direct player-to-player exchange provided an unbroken chain of authenticity that significantly amplified its eventual auction value.
Lionel Messi and the Qatar World Cup Lot
Rounding out the top tier of historical sports attire is a collection associated with Lionel Messi, though with a distinct structural difference. In December 2023, a lot consisting of six separate Argentina jerseys worn by Messi during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar sold for 7.8 million dollars (roughly 6.7 million euros). The article highlighted that unlike the top four entries—which represent single, individual garments from iconic single matches—the Messi transaction encompassed an entire multi-match collection culminating in his first career World Cup triumph following the final against France.
Market observers note that while single-match items like Pelé’s 1958 World Cup final shirt with Brazil retain unique individual status, multi-piece lots offer a comprehensive narrative of a player’s tournament run.
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