Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is set to hold its first sports memorabilia auction in Paris, with an online sale running from 17th to 26th March. Among the standout items is Lionel Messi’s final jersey before his move to FC Barcelona.
The auction will feature a diverse collection of memorabilia from football, basketball, cycling, tennis, and the Olympic Games. One of the most anticipated pieces is Messi’s No. 10 jersey from the Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys, worn during the “Pibes 1999” tournament final. This historic jersey, estimated at €80,000–€100,000, was the last Messi wore in an official match in Argentina before joining Barcelona at the age of 13.
A pair of Messi’s football boots, worn in FC Barcelona’s Champions League match against Chelsea on 31st October 2006, is also up for auction. These boots, embroidered with “Leo 19” alongside the Argentine flag and personally signed by Messi, are estimated at €40,000–€60,000.
“This is the first time Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is holding a dedicated sports memorabilia auction in Paris, marking a new step in this rapidly growing market,” said Jean-Marc Leynet, a sports expert and consultant for the sale. “Sports collectibles, from legendary football jerseys of Messi, Mbappé, and Zidane to historic trophies and signed tennis rackets from Djokovic and Graf, are now highly sought after by private collectors and museums alike.”
Other highlights include a game-worn Chicago Bulls jersey from Michael Jordan’s 1997-1998 NBA season (€20,000–€30,000), a commemorative basketball signed by Jordan and his teammates (€6,000–€8,000), and Novak Djokovic’s signed racket from the 2014 French Open final (€15,000–€20,000).
Olympic memorabilia will also be a key feature, with torches from the Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020, and Beijing 2022 Games on offer, alongside a rare set of gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympics.
The collection will be on public display at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris from 24th to 26th March.
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Photo, on the left: Exceptional No. 10 jersey from Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys, worn by Lionel Messi during the “Pibes 1999” tournament. Estimated value: €80,000–€100,000.
On the right: A pair of football boots worn by Lionel Messi for FC Barcelona on 31st October 2006 at Camp Nou. Estimated value: €40,000–€60,000. Source: Bonhams