10 Most Valuable Vintage Football Shirts Ever Sold

Introduction

Vintage football shirts aren't just collectibles—they're investments. Some rare kits have sold for eye-watering sums at auction, driven by iconic moments, legendary players, and scarcity. If you're wondering what makes a vintage shirt valuable, or dreaming of owning a piece of football history, this list reveals the most expensive vintage football shirts ever to change hands.

1. Maradona – World Cup 1986 Quarter-final (€8.3 million)

Perhaps the most famous football shirt ever, Diego Maradona’s jersey from the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England sold at Sotheby’s for £7,142,500 (over €8.3 million).
In that match, Maradona scored both the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century,” leading Argentina to victory just four years after the Falklands War — giving the triumph immense symbolic weight.
The shirt, exchanged with English midfielder Steve Hodge after the game, spent years on display at the National Football Museum in Manchester before heading to auction.
Sotheby’s called it “arguably the most sought-after football shirt of all time” — a lasting tribute to Maradona’s genius and one of the most powerful symbols in football history.

2. Lionel Messi – Set of 6 World Cup 2022 Shirts (€6.7 million)

At a Sotheby’s auction, six of Lionel Messi’s match-worn shirts from Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar sold for a staggering $7.8 million (around €6.7 million).
These included shirts worn during some of his most defining matches — all except the one from the Poland game. Bidding leapt from $6.5 million to $7.8 million in the final moments.
While it didn’t set an all-time record, the collection is now among the five most expensive pieces of sports memorabilia ever sold. Sotheby’s described them as “tangible memories of one of the greatest moments in sporting history — the pinnacle of Messi’s career.”

3. Pelé – 1000th Goal vs. Botafogo 1969 (€580,000)

In 1969, Pelé scored his legendary 1,000th career goal — a moment celebrated across Brazil. Although initially miscounted, it was later confirmed to have come against Botafogo da Paraíba.
After the match, Pelé famously handed his white number 10 shirt to a local official and even played briefly as goalkeeper to mark the occasion. In 2023, this shirt sold for around £500,000 (about €580,000), solidifying its place among the sport’s most valuable relics.

4. Lionel Messi – El Clásico 2016/17 (€428,000)

Before his World Cup shirts shattered records, Lionel Messi’s 2017 El Clásico shirt held his personal auction record. Worn during the unforgettable match where he scored the last-minute winner — his 500th goal for Barcelona — the shirt sold in 2022 for €428,000.
That iconic moment, sealed by Messi holding his shirt aloft to the Bernabéu crowd, remains etched in football history.

5. Sir Geoff Hurst – World Cup Final 1966 (€77,000)

An indelible part of football history, the red long-sleeve shirt worn by Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany symbolizes England’s greatest sporting triumph. Hurst’s hat-trick — including the controversial extra-time goal — secured England’s first and only World Cup title.
The shirt was sold at auction in 2000 for €77,000 and remains one of the most treasured artifacts in the sport’s history.

6. Lionel Messi – Ligue 1 Match 2022/23 (€55,019)

On January 29, 2023, Paris Saint-Germain faced Stade Reims wearing special shirts with player names in Mandarin to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Messi’s shirt from the 1–1 draw attracted worldwide attention when it went to auction shortly after.
In a remarkable twist, all 17 top bidders were from China, making it one of the most sought-after collectibles of that season.

7. Heung-Min Son – Europa League Final 2024/25 (€48,907)

On May 21, 2025, Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year wait for silverware, defeating Manchester United 1–0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao. It was also their first European title since 1984.
Captain Heung-Min Son, the club’s long-time talisman, lifted the trophy amid jubilation. His signed match-worn final shirt was later auctioned for over €48,000 — far exceeding all expectations.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo – Last Man Utd Match 2021/22 (€45,012)

On November 6, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo made his final appearance for Manchester United in a 3–1 defeat to Aston Villa — marking the end of his second spell at the club.
The shirt he wore that evening gained immense historical value and later sold for over €45,000, becoming a tangible reminder of the Portuguese legend’s complex but unforgettable chapter with United.

9. Paul Gascoigne – World Cup Semi-final 1990 (€42,160)

During the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany, Paul Gascoigne experienced one of football’s most emotional moments. In the 83rd minute, his yellow card ruled him out of a potential final. His tears, broadcast to 25 million viewers in the UK, turned him into a national icon.
His white England number 19 shirt, signed by teammates, was auctioned in September 2004. Initially expected to reach £20,000, it ultimately fetched £28,680 (around €42,160). Despite England’s heartbreaking penalty loss, Gascoigne’s shirt remains one of the most coveted pieces in football memorabilia.

10. Cole Palmer – Premier League Match 2024/25 (€41,127)

Conclusion

These shirts represent the pinnacle of football collecting—where history, rarity, and passion intersect. Whether you're an aspiring collector or just fascinated by the stories behind these pieces, one thing's clear: a vintage shirt worn by a legend during a defining moment is priceless.

Have you spotted any rare vintage shirts in the wild? What would be your dream piece to own?

An authentic match shirt often costs no more than €10 to produce, yet nowadays it easily sells for over €100. And that’s not even considering match-worn shirts. As you’ve seen, those can eventually go under the hammer for millions. It shows just how valuable a memory of the game can be.