Messi’s 2022 World Cup jerseys fetch $7.8 million at auction

Six game-worn jerseys that Lionel Messi wore throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina fetched $7.8 million on Thursday when they sold at auction.

Among the selection is Messi’s jersey from the final when Argentina defeated France on penalties and Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy after becoming world champion.

FOUR REASONS SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON MIGHT STRUGGLE TO SUCCEED IN 2024

Multiple bids saw the price of the collection rise to $7.8 million at Sotheby’s New York, according to a report.

Messi wore the jerseys in the first half of the matches they are associated with, and they were gifted to the auction by AC Momento, a tech startup.

“These match worn shirts are artifacts of Messi’s legacy. They symbolize the culmination of a career filled with hard work, and an undying passion for the beautiful game. Messi’s 2022 World Cup journey was about more than just winning; it was about inspiring generations of footballers and fans,” Sotheby’s said in a statement.

“In the years to come, these shirts will serve as a reminder of Messi’s greatness and the indelible mark he left on the world of football. Worn through the first half of each respective match, they are symbols of triumph and perseverance.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

An anonymous bidder bought the collection, but not the record price that many hoped for, the report noted.

The lot failed to beat the $10.1 million price tag for Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey, or the $9.2 million tag for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” Argentina jersey.