The replica World Cup trophy that Lionel Messi hoisted and kissed in the photo that became the most-liked image in Instagram's history just found a new owner — for £390,166, or roughly $525,000. The piece sold alongside a rare Messi trading card at a sports memorabilia auction in South Carolina on Saturday, closing the book on a four-year journey that began as one supporter's tribute, was carried down from the stands onto the field and ended at the auction block.
The trophy and card were the headline lot at Richmond Auctions' Premier Sports Card & TCG Auction, according to Talker.news, with the pair fetching the huge combined sum. The real World Cup trophy was handed back to FIFA for safekeeping after Argentina beat France on penalties in the 2022 final, which is why replicas like this one circulated among the celebrating squad in the first place.
Accounts differ slightly on exactly how long the trophy changed hands that night. Talker.news reported it was passed among the players, including tournament standout Messi, for 45 minutes during the post-match celebrations, while Richmond Auctions described the piece circulating among members of the winning team for nearly 45 minutes. Either way, eight members of the victorious Argentina squad signed the replica, according to a PR Newswire announcement.
From Buenos Aires Museum Display to the Auction Floor
After the celebration, the trophy went on exhibition at the National Historical Museum of Buenos Aires, and Richmond Auctions said its history is backed by notarial documentation, photographs, video, media coverage and exhibition records. The auction house paired it with a 2022 Panini Instant Lionel Messi No. 118 FIFA World Cup Qatar trading card, graded PSA 10 GEM MINT, giving bidders a two-piece lot built entirely around that one night in Qatar.
Richmond Auctions co-founder Jordan Richmond said the appeal came down to three things collectors chase above all else. “What drew us to this piece is the same point that draws us to exceptional collectibles across every category: rarity, provenance and a story that can't be recreated,” Richmond said, per the auction house's announcement. No pre-auction estimate was set, leaving the market to determine the final price on its own.
A Disclaimer, and a Pattern of Big Messi Sales
The auction house was careful to separate the collectible from any official sanction. Its announcement described the trophy as an independently made replica and stated that neither Richmond Auctions nor the auction itself is affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by tournament organizers, governing bodies or the players referenced in the lot's history, per the PR Newswire release.
A separate set of six Messi World Cup jerseys previously sold for $7.8 million at auction, according to the Associated Press. The trophy-and-card sale came nearly four years after the final whistle in Qatar.
