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Babe Ruth’s iconic jersey leads the list of the most expensive sports memorabilia sold at auction, followed by historic items linked to Michael Jordan, Maradona, Messi and more.
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The jersey Babe Ruth wore in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series in Chicago, where he famously pointed to the outfield and hit a home run on the next pitch, is being sold by Heritage Auctions in July. HA.com
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A Chicago Bulls jersey Michael Jordan wore during the 1998 NBA Finals was sold by Hunt Auctions through a private treaty sale. (Photo via Hunt Auctions)
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Heritage Auctions/HA.com Image caption, The card features the signatures of both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
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The shirt in which Diego Maradona scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup
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The 1892 Olympic Games manifesto
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The six shirts worn by Messi during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup campaign on display at Sotheby’s in New York. Photograph: Peter K Afriyie/AP
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The jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his rookie Los Angeles Lakers season in 1996-97 sold for a record price at auction. Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty Images
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Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ belt
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The jersey worn by Brazilian football legend Pele during the 1958 FIFA World Cup final (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
Shohei Ohtani’s 50–50 ball
Rank | Sports memorabilia item | Price paid | Year sold |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Babe Ruth’s 1932 ‘called shot’ jersey | £18.2 million | 2024 |
2 | Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey | £10.6 million | 2026 |
3 | Michael Jordan–Kobe Bryant 2007–08 card | £9.8 million | 2025 |
4 | Diego Maradona’s 1986 ‘Hand of God’ shirt | £7.1 million | 2022 |
5 | Olympic Games manifesto (1892) | £6.7 million | 2019 |
6 | Six Lionel Messi 2022 World Cup shirts | £5.9 million | 2023 |
7 | Kobe Bryant’s 1996–97 rookie jersey | £5.3 million | 2025 |
8 | Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ belt (1974) | £4.7 million | 2022 |
9 | Pelé’s 1958 World Cup final shirt | £3.7 million | 2026 |
10 | Shohei Ohtani’s 50–50 ball (2024) | £3.3 million | 2024 |