Lionel Messi's six jerseys that he wore during Argentina's victorious campaign at the 2022 World Cup fetched a staggering $7.8 million at a New York auction on Thursday.
Sotheby's, the auction house, reported that the sale price for this set of jerseys surpassed the previous record for any item linked to the player, establishing it as the most valuable sporting memorabilia auctioned in the current year.
Among the jerseys was the one Messi donned in the first half of the final against France in Qatar.
"These historic shirts are not only a tangible reminder of one of the most important moments in the history of sports but are principally connected to the pinnacle moment in the career of the most decorated football player in history," Sotheby's Head of Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said.
The jersey worn by Michael Jordan in the inaugural game of the 1998 NBA Finals set a record as the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia item ever sold, bringing in $10.1 million last year.
(With Reuters inputs)
