LONDON – Lionel Messi’s record-breaking football boots broke another record at auction. The auction concluded on Friday with a late flurry of bids that tripled the price in the final hour of the boots Messi wore when breaking Pele’s long-standing record.
Lionel Messi donated his adidas record goal-scoring boots to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. Together they decided to offer this historic item of sporting memorabilia in a charity sale. The boots sold for £125,000, approximately $175,000.
The on-line auction, by Christie’s, ran from 19th to 30th April. The proceeds from the sale will support the Arts and Health Project of the Vall Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona.
Messi commented on the charity sale: “Achieving the record of 644 goals for the same club made me very happy. But the most important thing is being able to give something back to all the kids fighting for their health. We hope this auction serves to really raise awareness about this great initiative and I would like to thank all for supporting a cause so important to me.”
Record-breaking boots
On 22nd December 2020, Lionel Messi broke one of football’s greatest records – scoring the most goals for a single club. He netted his 644th goal for FC Barcelona in their game against Real Valladolid.
The previous holder of the record was arguably the game’s most celebrated player, Pelé. The famous Brazilian scored 643 goals in 665 competitive games for Santos. Messi achieved his incredible feat in 749 appearances.
Messi signed the boots, used to score the record-breaking goal against Real Valladolid.
Auction estimate
Christie’s of London auctioned the boots on 30th April, with the signed items available for viewing online. Previously, they were displayed at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona.
The estimate was €50,000 – €70,000. Details of the boots are: Game-worn Adidas Nemeziz Messi 19.1, each boot signed ‘Lionel Messi’. Originally with customisation detailing ‘Antonela Roccuzzo’ and ‘Thiago, Mateo and Ciro’ and their dates of birth (Lionel Messi’s three sons).
Barcelona charity benefits
The mission of the Vall Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona is to provide the best care to patients on a hospital campus committed to research and innovation applied to clinical healthcare.
Josep Serra Director of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya said: “For over three years the Hospital Vall d’Hebron and the Nacional Museum of Catalunya have been working together to research therapeutic benefits obtained through the arts. The additional funds raised through this auction, due to the generosity of Mr. Messi, will allow researchers and art teachers to look beyond the already successful therapies and we would like to thank Mr. Messi for his generosity and support.”
Dr. Albert Salazar, Managing Director, Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron added: “For the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital the funds raised through this auction will help us to continue to improve the health of many children and their families through the arts. I am sure that the generosity of Lionel Messi and adidas will allow us to initiate further projects related to Arts and Health which are proven to have such a meaningful impact.”
