Historic piece with documented on-field history and Lionel Messi trading card headline Richmond
Auctions’ sports collectibles debut as the auction house brings its $100M+ track record to a new category
GREENVILLE, S.C., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — During Argentina’s 2022 championship celebration in Qatar, a replica trophy made its way onto the field after the official post-match presentation ceremony and became part of a historic win and celebration in sports. For nearly 45 minutes, the piece was passed among members of the winning team, signed by players and captured in photographs and video documenting its on-field moment.
Now, nearly four years later, the replica trophy is heading to the auction block alongside a 2022 Panini Instant Lionel Messi #118 FIFA World Cup Qatar trading card, graded PSA 10 GEM MINT, featuring Messi holding the replica during Argentina’s post-match celebration. The two collectibles will be offered together, connecting the physical piece to the trading card that captures the historic moment.
On November 7, Richmond Auctions will offer the paired collectibles as the centerpieces of its Premier Sports Card & TCG Auction, marking the South Carolina based auction house’s expansion into sports collectibles. The sale represents a new chapter for Richmond Auctions, which has surpassed $100 million in gross sales since its first auction in 2021 and built its business around rare and notable collectibles where provenance and history are central to their story.
The replica trophy’s story extends well beyond its 45 minutes on the field, and its journey from the celebration in Qatar, to its subsequent exhibition at an Argentine museum is supported by notarial documentation, photographs and video, media coverage and exhibition records. The accompanying trading card further connects the piece to the historic celebration, preserving the moment Messi held the replica in a collectible format.
For Richmond Auctions, a collectible whose story is closely tied to its provenance is a fitting centerpiece for the auction house’s move into sports. Founded in 2021 by collectors Jordan Richmond and Mike McCandless, the auction house has grown from its roots in advertising memorabilia, automobilia and petroliana, including the record-setting sale of a 1929 MusGo Gasoline porcelain sign that sold for $1,552,500, including buyer’s premium. The sale set a world record for an antique advertising sign and reflects the type of historically significant collectibles that have defined Richmond Auctions as it continues to expand into new categories.
“Sports collectibles are a natural next step for Richmond Auctions,” said Jordan Richmond, Co-Founder of Richmond Auctions. “What drew us to this piece is the same point that draws us to exceptional collectibles across every category: rarity, provenance and a story that can’t be recreated. As collectors ourselves, that has been fundamental to how we’ve built Richmond Auctions, and it’s the same perspective we’re now bringing to sports collectibles.”
The replica and accompanying Messi trading card will lead the upcoming November 7 sale, which will also feature notable vintage and modern sports cards, autographed memorabilia and other collectibles.
Highlights from the sports card collection include:
- 1916 M101-4 Gimbels “Shoeless” Joe Jackson #87, graded SGC 6
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311, graded SGC 4.5
- 2001-02 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Buybacks autograph, numbered 1/10, graded BGS 9.5 with a 9 autograph
- 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Autographs Blue Wave Refractor Aaron Judge, numbered to 50, graded BGS 9.5
- 2020 Panini Contenders Championship Ticket Joe Burrow rookie autograph, numbered to 49, graded PSA 10
The Premier Sports Card & TCG Auction will take place live at 526 Congaree Road in Greenville, South Carolina on November 7, 2026, with a public preview scheduled for Friday, November 6, and online at RichmondAuctions.com.
For more information, including auction details and registration, visit RichmondAuctions.com.
About Richmond Auctions
Founded by collectors Jordan Richmond and Mike McCandless, Richmond Auctions surpassed $100 million in gross auction sales in under four years. The company is internationally recognized for high-end advertising memorabilia, automobilia and petroliana, including the world-record sale of a 1929 MusGo Gasoline porcelain sign for more than $1.5 million, and has expanded into collector cars and additional specialty categories.
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