A collection of six shirts worn by soccer legend Lionel Messi during Argentina’s victorious campaign in the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar will be auctioned by Sotheby’s.
The shirts, including one from the epic final against France, are part of a sale that could exceed $10 million, making it one of the most valuable sports memorabilia auctions.
Proceeds will partly benefit the UNICAS Project, an initiative for children with rare diseases supported by the Leo Messi Foundation and Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital.
“The 2022 FIFA World Cup stands as one of the greatest events in sports history, intrinsically connected to Messi’s valiant journey and firmly establishing his status as the greatest player of all time,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head Of Modern Collectibles.
Wachter highlighted the auction as a significant event, linking collectors to Messi’s extraordinary achievement in the tournament.
Messi, currently with Inter Miami and formerly a long-time Barcelona player, scored two goals in the final, leading Argentina to their third World Cup title.
The auction runs from November 30 to December 14 in New York, with a free public exhibition of the shirts at Sotheby’s during the bidding period.
The President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, confirmed that the 2034 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation submitted its bid to host the 2034 edition, with FIFA officially closing the application process on 31 October, with no other submissions made.
Infantino shared the news on his Instagram account, stating that the World Cup on Earth will be organized in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026 in North America, while Morocco will host in Africa, and Portugal and Spain in Europe for the 2030 edition, with three celebratory matches taking place in South America in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
