Six jerseys of soccer icon Lionel Messi worn during Argentina's winning run last World Cup have been sold for $7.8 million

The world-famous football player Lionel Messi's six jerseys from Argentina's World Cup victory run last year sold for $7.8 million on Thursday, according to Sotheby's auction house. According to Sotheby's, the final price for the shirts—each of which was worn during the first half of an Argentina match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar—is the highest amount ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia this year.

Argentina won their third World Cup after defeating France in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 tie in the championship match. Messi scored two of Argentina's three goals in the win, making it a memorable occasion for one of the best players in sports history.

Messi, 36, spent 17 years with Barcelona before joining Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer. He holds the record for most wins with eight Ballon d'Or victories, which are given to the best player in the game each year.

The Messi shirts did not break the record for the most expensive auction item for game-worn sports memorabilia, which was Sotheby's hope. Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals jersey holds the record for the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia; it sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby's in New York last year.

During the two weeks of the online auction, which concluded on Thursday, the shirts were on display in Sotheby's New York offices. Details regarding the successful bidder remained undisclosed.

According to Sotheby's, a percentage of the auction's revenues will go towards supporting children with rare diseases through the UNICAS Project, which is run by Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's Hospital and funded by the Leo Messi Foundation.