NEW YORK, Nov 20, (Agencies): Sotheby's announced on Monday that a collection of six jerseys worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign will be up for auction in December, with an estimated value of $10 million. Messi showcased these jerseys in pivotal moments, including the group-stage clashes with Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as subsequent matches against Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and the final showdown against France.

The 2022 World Cup victory marked a significant achievement for Messi, who had previously fallen short in four previous attempts to secure the championship. If the jerseys indeed surpass the $10 million valuation, the auction could set a new record for the most valuable sports memorabilia collection ever sold, according to Sotheby's.

The current record for the most expensive individual jersey sold at auction belongs to basketball legend Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA finals jersey, which fetched $10.1 million last year. The increasing recognition of sports memorabilia as a burgeoning market has led auction houses to place greater emphasis on such items in recent years.

The jerseys, brought to auction by US tech startup AC Momento, will contribute a portion of the proceeds to the UNICAS Project. This initiative, associated with a Barcelona children's hospital, aids children with rare diseases. The public will have the opportunity to view the jerseys at no cost during the auction preview period, scheduled from November 30 to December 14.