*Unique* 2022 Lionel Messi #10 Argentina FIFA World Cup Final Match Issued Jersey vs Croatia (One of Five Official Messi Shirts Made for Epic World Cup Semi-Final Performance)

(Estimated 15,000 - 25,000 USD)

*Provenance: Collection of Argentina U-23 Equipment Manager*

Shirt details:

Serial Code Tag:

06/22 HB9218 A17001

The teams had met five times before, each side winning twice and drawing once. Two of these matches took place in the World Cup group stage: a 1–0 win for Argentina in 1998 was followed by Croatia's 3–0 victory in 2018.

Both sides kept a cautious approach in the match's opening half hour, until Croatian defenders Dejan Lovren and Joško Gvardiol mistakenly let Julián Alvarez pass through the defence in the 32nd minute, leading to goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic colliding with Alvarez. Referee Daniele Orsato booked Livakovic and awarded a penalty kick to Argentina, which Lionel Messi converted high into the top right corner of the goal. The collision also sparked a feud between Orsato and some Croatia players, causing Mateo Kovacic to be booked and the sending off of assistant coach Mario Mandžukic. In the 39th minute, Alvarez ran through several Croatian defenders and scored Argentina's second goal. In the second half of the match, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic substituted off five players, including team captain Luka Modric, in order to boost the attacking ability of the team, but this didn't stop Messi and Alvarez from providing another goal for the Argentinians; in the 69th minute, Messi twisted past Gvardiol on the byline before teeing the ball up to Alvarez in the center, enabling Alvarez to score his second goal. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for Argentina, a reversal of the scoreline from their 2018 encounter.

Messi's goal from the penalty spot was his eleventh at a World Cup, taking him ahead of Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's most prolific goalscorer in the competition. Messi also drew level with former German midfielder Lothar Matthäus's record of 25 matches played in World Cup finals

 AFA [Argentine Football Association] crest and two gold stars (representing the nation’s two previous World Cup titles) embossed on the left chest. The match details – appear on the center of the chest in small black font, with the Adidas logo on the right chest. Messi’s iconic No. “10” appears on the front and larger on the reverse, with “MESSI” straight across the upper back all in black in the team’s custom font. On the right sleeve is the official “FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022” patch and on the left sleeve is FIFA’s “Football Unites the World” patch. A gold patch of the Sol de Mayo [Sun of May] – Argentina’s national emblem that appears on its country flag – is embossed on the upper back. The collar, shoulders, sleeve ends, sides, and back hem are all trimmed in black. A triangular “Adidas Authentic 2022” label appears on the front right tail, with a globe symbol and “HEAT. RDY” on the front left tail. All letters, numbers and patches are properly pressed onto the breathable fabric of the light-weight pullover shirt. Accurate wash instructions tags indicating 100% polyester and “Made in Argentina” in English, Spanish and Portuguese are found inside the front left tail.
The Adidas manufacturer’s label inside the collar is very important to distinguish this shirt from a retail store model or replica. The medium size (“M”) matches the documented size worn by Messi during the 2022 World Cup. “Hecho en Argentina [Made in Argentina]”