Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the team after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, December 18, 2022. /CFP
A set of six jerseys that Lionel Messi wore during Argentina's victorious 2022 World Cup run will be auctioned in December, Sotheby's announced on Monday, estimating their value at more than $10 million.
The football star donned these shirts during the first halves of the group-stage rounds against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as later games against Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia, and the final against France.
Argentina's winning run in Qatar last year was the final feather in the forward's cap, having failed to secure the championship in four previous World Cups.
"The extraordinary collection is estimated in excess of $10 million, with the sale poised to become the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia at auction," Sotheby's said in a statement.
"A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the UNICAS Project led by Sant Joan de Déu (SJD) Barcelona Children's Hospital with the support of the Leo Messi Foundation to meet the needs of children suffering from rare diseases," the statement said.
Sotheby's tweet on November 20 about Messi's shirts that will be auctioned. /@Sothebys
The most expensive individual jersey ever sold at auction was worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan during his NBA finals run with the Chicago Bulls in 1998.
It sold for $10.1 million last year.
Auction houses have increasingly taken note of sports memorabilia in recent years, considered a growing market.
The shirts are being brought to auction by U.S. tech startup AC Momento, which helps athletes manage memorabilia collections.
The jerseys will be available for free public viewing when they are up for auction from November 30 to December 14.
(With input from agencies)