Lionel Messi’s boots go up for auction, expected to fetch $100,000

Lionel Messi is an Argentine football legend, having won a record six Ballon d'Or recognitions. He has made a name for himself playing for Barcelona throughout his career and is the club's record goal-scorer. He is also one of the wealthiest footballers in the world.

Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi is someone who barely needs any introduction. The legendary football keeps scripting new records for himself with each passing game while being one of the wealthiest footballers globally.

Messi's record
Messi broke Barcelona's goal-scoring record when he scored his 644th goal for the Catalan. Since then, he had given off the boots he wore during the match to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

Boot for auction
However, now, the museum has decided to auction off the boot. The proceedings collected are expected to be donated to the Arts and Health Project of the Vall Hebron University Hospital in the city for its development.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the boots are expected to fetch around $100,000. The auction is scheduled to run from April 19-30, while the shoes will also have the names of Messi's wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his kids embroidered on them.

Reactions
"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," Messi said ahead of the auction.

Christie's head of sale, Dominic Thurlow-Wood reckoned, "We put an estimate on them which we hope will attract as much interest as possible. We're expecting a record price for a pair of football boots and hopeful that's the case. All the proceeds will go to charity."

Auction record
Christie's had earlier seen legendary basketball player Michael Jordan's shoes getting auctioned for $615,000. The world record for highest bid happened to be at Leland's sports auction house when American football quarterback Tom Brady's rookie card fetched $2.25 million.