The football that cemented Lionel Messi’s place in sport history is due to be auctioned for up to £200,000.
UK auctioneer Graham Budd Auctions is due to open bidding for the football used in FIFA 2022 World Cup Final on June 6th.
Estimated bids range from £160,000 to £200,000 – approximately €180,000 to €260,000.
The Al Hilm ball (meaning ‘the dream’ in Arabic) used for the final was designed by Adidas and features a metallic gold base with a triangular pattern made from maroon and burgundy.
The colours were inspired by the deserts of Doha, the World Cup trophy, and the Qatar flag.
It was used in the 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France in what is now known as the match that cemented Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi in football history.
Argentina won 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw, earning their third World Cup title.
Following the match, an anonymous person won the football used in a 'Win the Match Ball' competition run by Adidas.
The anonymous winner has now placed the football for auction.
The football was created using “connected ball technology” that delivers real-time data to officials and allows them to track any contact made by players using sensors.
Graham Budd Auctions specialise in sports memorabilia, having previously auctioned the ball used in the 1986 World Cup final between Argentina and Germany for £36,000.
They also auctioned the penny used in the coin toss at the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany for £9,000. The coin had been estimated to sell for approximately £1,500.
