Messi's 2022 World Cup Celebration Replica Hits Auction Block Next Week

The most-liked Instagram post in history features a specific object. It is not the real World Cup trophy. Lionel Messi holds it in his profile picture, visible to 517 million followers worldwide. For the 2022 championship victory, the Argentine team celebrated with a replica. That exact item hits the auction block next week.

Jordan Richmond, founder of Richmond Auctions, secured the piece after verifying its authenticity. The consignor, an Argentine fan seated in the front row, bought the replica from a private commissioner. It was intended for personal display only. Then, chaos erupted on the field. A player spotted the trophy in the stands. Security escorted him up to the pitch. He asked to use it for the celebrations.

Richmond possesses extensive video and photographic evidence proving the chain of custody. The consignor recorded the replica leaving his hands. He filmed it passing through the players’ hands. Richmond’s graphic team compared these visuals against high-resolution photos of Messi. The details match perfectly. The provenance is undeniable.

"This trophy was passed around the field for 45 minutes to an hour," Richmond explained. "Almost all the players held it." Every iconic photo of Messi on the pitch likely features this specific replica. That includes the viral image that racked up over 74 million likes.

The current bid stands at $110,000. Richmond refuses to set a ceiling price. He believes assigning a fixed value disrespects the collectible market. "Who are we to put a floor or a ceiling on any collectible?" he asked. The market depends entirely on who is bidding that day.

Messi’s memorabilia commands staggering prices. Six or seven jerseys sold for between $7 million and $8 million a few years ago. Trading cards fetch similar premiums. Richmond sees this trophy as potentially priceless. He will not constrain the final hammer price with arbitrary limits.

Messi’s journey spans nearly two decades. He debuted in the 2006 World Cup. He declared his 2022 win his final tournament. He changed his mind. Argentina competed in the 2026 edition in the U.S. Spain defeated them in the final. It marked Messi’s second time as a runner-up. Earlier this year, he retired from international competition.

The auction begins on Nov. 7.