Well, the football jerseys worn by the legendary football players are much more than just a piece of clothing for the millions of football aficionados from all over the world. The past few decades have witnessed a massive crowd at the auctions, spine-chilling bids and memorable memorabilias that have left the fans emotional more than ever before.
From Diego Maradona’s match-worn jersey from the 1986 World Cup to Lionel Messi’s match-worn jersey at the 2022 World Cup, the history of the game has witnessed numerous iconic jerseys that have left a formidable impact on the hearts and minds of the hardcore fans of the game. Have you ever wondered about the top four most expensive football jerseys ever sold in the history of football? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four most expensive football jerseys that have gone under the hammer at auctions for millions and have been claimed by the hardcore fans of the game.
Top 4 Most Expensive Football Jerseys Ever Sold
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Diego Maradona, 1986 World Cup – €8.5 Million
Often regarded as one of the most expensive and valuable memorabilias in the world of professional football, Diego Maradona’s match-worn jersey from the 1986 World Cup is at the first spot in our list of the top four most expensive football jerseys ever sold in the history of the game. Diego Maradona’s match-worn jersey was sold at Sotheby’s auction house in London on 4 May 2022 for a staggering €8.5 million, making it the most expensive memorabilia in the history of the game as of 2025.
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Diego Maradona wore the jersey in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final which is often regarded as one of the most memorable games in the history of professional football. In the 90th minute of the match, Diego Maradona scored the most controversial goal, which is often hailed as the “Hand of God”, leading Argentina to a spine-chilling 2-1 victory against England.
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Lionel Messi, 2022 World Cup – £6.1 Million
At the second spot in our list of the top four most expensive football jerseys that have gone under the hammer at the auctions for millions, we have Lionel Messi’s match-worn jersey that he wore during Argentina’s historic 2022 World Cup campaign. Although Lionel Messi has been regarded as one of the greatest footballers in the world since the beginning of his professional football career, he could claim the prestigious World Cup trophy only at the age of 35 in 2022.
During the final match of the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi scored two goals before finally lifting the coveted trophy. Lionel Messi’s iconic jersey was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for a staggering £6.1 million, making it the second most expensive jersey ever sold in the history of the game.
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Pelé, 1970 World Cup – £1.5 Million
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four most expensive football jerseys ever sold in the history of the game, we have Pelé’s match-worn jersey in the final match of the infamous 1979 World Cup which was sold for an unbelievable £1.5 million at Christie’s auction house in London during a football memorabilia sale on 27 March 2002.
The 1970 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy is often hailed as one of the greatest finals ever witnessed in the history of the World Cup tournament which spans over decades. The legendary Brazilian professional football player Pelé opened the score and played a crucial role in assisting Brazil to a sensational victory against Italy at the 1970 World Cup.
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Sir Geoff Hurst, 1966 World Cup – £91,750
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four most expensive football jerseys, we have the iconic match-worn jersey of Sir Geoff Hurst, which he wore while scoring a sensational and infamous hat-trick for England against West Germany during the 1966 World Cup, which continues to be the only hat-trick ever scored by a professional football player in the finals of the FIFA World Cup, speaking volumes about his unwavering and unmatched dominance in the game.
Over 90,000 spectators witnessed Sir Geoff Hurst lead England to their maiden FIFA World Cup victory after scoring a record total of three goals against West Germany. The iconic jersey sold for a staggering £91,750, which makes it the fourth most expensive jersey ever sold in the history of the game.
