Lionel Messi World Cup 2022 shirts hit auction block in New York

Argentinian footballer's jerseys could become most valuable sports memorabilia collection in history

A collection of six match-worn Lionel Messi jerseys from the 2022 World Cup. Photo: Sotheby's

The jerseys could be the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia in history. Photo: Sotheby's

Messi poses with the jersey he wore during the first half of the World Cup final against France. Photo: Sam Robles Photography

Messi with six of his jerseys from the 2022 World Cup. Photo: Sam Robles Photography

The shirt worn by Messi during Argentina's group stage match against Saudi Arabia. Photo: Sotheby's

The jersey Messi wore during the first half of the 2022 World Cup final against France. Photo: Sotheby's

A jersey is displayed during a press preview ahead of its auction at Sotheby's in New York. Reuters

Two jerseys on display at Sotheby's in New York. Reuters

The jerseys worn during the matches between Argentina and Croatia and Argentina and France. AFP

A visitor looks at the six World Cup match-worn shirts belonging to Messi at Sotheby's New York. AFP

The auction will be open for bidding from November 30 to December 14. AFP

One of the jerseys on display. EPA

Bidding began at Sotheby's New York on Thursday for six shirts worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina's Fifa 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar that could become the most valuable sports memorabilia collection in modern history.

The collection includes half a dozen match-worn shirts from Messi's World Cup run, in which he capped his legendary career by lifting the World Cup trophy.

The auction, which began with an opening bid of $5.2 million, will run through December 14. The collection will also be publicly displayed at Sotheby's New York throughout the duration of the bidding process.

The collection is estimated to bring in about $10 million, Sotheby's said. The current record for game-worn sports memorabilia is Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals jersey, which sold for $10.1 million last year.

Among the set includes the classic Argentinian shirt with the white and sky blue stripes worn by Messi during the first half against France in the World Cup final.

It also includes shirts he wore during the semi-final against Croatia, the quarterfinal against the Netherlands and the first knockout round against Australia, as well as group stage matches against Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

“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, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby's.

In his career, Messi has won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona and eight Ballon d'Ors, along with a Copa America trophy with Argentina.

Messi currently plays for Inter Miami CF.