Lionel Messi shirt auction FAILS to break record after six match-worn jerseys fetch $7.8m… well below the $10.1m paid for Michael Jordan’s 1998 finals jersey – the most valuable memorabilia in sports history

The World Cup final shirt worn by Lionel Messi was part of a collection of his Argentina shirts that fetched $7.8 million at auction on Thursday, but the whole thing failed to break the record for sport's most valuable memorabilia.

Six tops from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – when Argentina beat France on penalties to win the tournament – ​​were auctioned as a set by Sotheby's in New York, with some of the proceeds going to charity.

Bids closed at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, with the winning bid totaling $7,803,000. With minutes to go before the deadline, there had only been three bids, the highest of which was $6.5 million.

The jerseys include Messi's shirt from the first half of the World Cup final, the semi-final against Croatia, the quarter-final against the Netherlands and the round of 16 against Australia, as well as two of the three group stage matches. .

It was hoped they could raise at least $10 million (£8 million), which could have been a record for a 'sports memorabilia collection'.

Messi scored seven goals and three assists to lead Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar

The highest price paid for a piece of sports memorabilia is Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 – from the famous 'Last Dance' season – sold last September for $10.1 million (£8. 1 million) was sold at Sotheby's New York.

By comparison, the most expensive piece of music memorabilia is Kurt Cobain's guitar from an MTV Unplugged performance in 1993, just five months before he died. That sold in 2020 for £4.2 million.

Messi's shirts are still the most valuable sporting memorabilia sold at auction this year. The $7.8 million bid is also among the highest ever paid, surpassing the previous record for Messi memories. Last year, a Barcelona shirt he wore in El Clasico in 2017 sold for $450,000.

Last month, an eye-catching first bid was made for these sweaters – the bar is set at a whopping $5.2 million (rising to $6.3 million with buyer's premium).

That initial bid surpassed previous winning bids for game-worn jerseys such as Kobe Bryant's 2007-08 MVP season jersey ($5.8 million), Babe Ruth's 1928-30 New York Yankees jersey ($5.6 million) and LeBron James ' NBA Finals Game 7 2013. jersey ($3.6 million).

Previously, Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' jersey grossed $9.3 million.

Six kits worn by Messi were auctioned at Sotheby's in New York, ending on Thursday

Messi is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time and the World Cup win in Qatar was the crowning achievement of his remarkable career.

Despite losing the opening match against Saudi Arabia, Argentina went all out and eventually defeated France in a dramatic final.

Messi finished the tournament with seven goals and three assists, including two goals in the final.

After the World Cup, Messi left Europe to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Since then, he has helped the club win its first trophy, the Leagues Cup, and was also awarded his eighth Ballon d'Or.