Updated: 18 May 2026 15:03 BST |
3 min read
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting occasion on the planet and so football fans are keen to cherish memories of their favourite moments, teams, players, or even special items.
World Cup memorabilia has a way of bringing football’s biggest moments back to life. Whether it’s a signed shirt, a match ticket, or a programme from a famous final, these items carry the excitement, nostalgia, and history that make the tournament so special.
For fans and collectors, it’s not just about owning something rare, it’s about holding a piece of the story and that’s why we’ve seen some iconic pieces of memorabilia sell for not just thousands but millions.
The most expensive piece of World Cup memorabilia ever sold was the shirt worn by Diego Maradona against England in the 1986 quarter-final, in which he scored two of the most iconic goals in history, the “Goal of the Century” and the infamous “Hand of God”.
At a Sotheby’s auction in 2022, it went for a cool £7,142,500 ($9.28 million).
People seem keen on Argentina memorabilia, as six shirts worn by Lionel Messi on his way to lifting the 2022 World Cup sold for £6.1 million ($7.8 million) in an auction in New York. Sotheby’s said at the time: “A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to Unicas Project, led by Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona Children’s Hospital with the support of the Leo Messi Foundation, to meet the needs of children suffering from rare diseases.”
There’s only one other piece of football memorabilia that has gone for more than a million and that’s the match ball used in the aforementioned 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina. It might still have an imprint of Diego’s hand…
Rounding out the top five is Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup Medal, Shirt and Cap and Pele’s 1970 Jules Rimet Trophy Replica, which sold for £445,000 ($560,000) and £394,000 ($500,000), respectively in 2022 and 2016.
World Cup memorabilia doesn’t have to be such a high price, however, as you can pick up some 2026 souvenirs courtesy of LEGO©.
The showpiece of their new World Cup collection is the FIFA World Cup™ Official Trophy, which is a 2842-block likeness of the official trophy. This life-sized model, which would make an ideal display piece, comes with its own mini-figure, which pops out of the trophy holding a miniature rendering of the prize.
Similarly, The FIFA World Cup 2026™ ball is another iconic set that is unique to this competition.
It is a LEGO replica of the size 5 football that will be used across North America this summer but is distinguished by popping open to display a packed stadium celebrating the winning team.
