LiveScore Daily: Messi's World Cup shirts could fetch over £8m

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Messi millions

Lionel Messi's shirts from last winter's World Cup in Qatar are to be sold amid hopes they could fetch a record fee of more than £8million.

Auction house Sotheby's announced today that six of the Argentina captain's first-half jerseys from the tournament, including the one he donned in the final victory over France, will be put up for sale in New York.

The auction house will offer the shirts between November 30 and December 4 — and they will also be on view at Sotheby's New York headquarters in a public exhibition during the course of the bidding dates.

Diego Maradona's jersey from Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarter-final victory over England is currently the most expensive piece of game-worn football memorabilia, fetching a whopping £7.45m in May 2022.

The record for all game-worn sports memorabilia is Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey, which sold for £8.09m at Sotheby's in September 2022.

Gavi heartbreak

Barcelona starlet Gavi is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The midfielder, 19, picked up the serious injury in the first half of Spain's 3-1 victory over Georgia last Sunday, with the club confirming he will undergo surgery in the coming days.

Barcelona wrote in a statement: "Gavi's spirit and determination on the field are what defines him as a player and he gives absolutely everything in a Barca shirt. 

"For that reason his injury is a big blow for all Barca fans and so here is a chance to send him a message of support."

Barcelona team-mate Ferran Torres held up Gavi's No9 shirt in a show of support after putting Spain 2-1 ahead against Georgia.

Record-breaking Romelu

Romelu Lukaku set a new scoring record in a single European Championship qualifying campaign with his four-goal haul in Belgium's 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan last Sunday.

The striker, 30, has notched 14 goals from eight appearances — one more than the previous record of 13 jointly held by Northern Ireland icon David Healy (2006) and Poland marksman Robert Lewandowski (2016).

Lukaku bagged a hat-trick against Sweden on Matchday 1 before netting braces home and away against Estonia.

He is now joint-seventh on the list of all-time leading international scorers with 83 goals, moving two ahead of Lewandowski (81).

Gibraltar rocked

France manager Didier Deschamps delivered a ruthless half-time team talk during his side's 14-0 win over Gibraltar.

It was a record European Championship qualifying victory, with Les Bleus skipper Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick and chipping in with three assists.

Gibraltar saw centre-back Ethan Santos sent off in the 15th minute for a rash tackle on debutant Warren Zaire-Emery, which paved the way for the mauling.

With his side 7-0 up at the break, Deschamps said: "Full marks boys for the first half. 

"Let's have more of the same in the second. Keep things as simple as possible and whenever we can we score.

"It's 7-0, but there are no limits. I want the same determination from everybody. The record is 10-0, out of interest, you could smash it. Don't hold back boys."

GOAT debate

Steven Gerrard has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo the best player ever while waxing lyrical about the Saudi Pro League.

The Liverpool legend took over as manager of Al-Ettifaq in the summer, with ex-Reds midfielders Jordan Henderson and Giorginio Wijnaldum joining him in Dammam.

Gerrard said: "The arrival of the goat as we call him, Cristiano [Ronaldo], him arriving in January obviously was a huge signing.

"He still had a lot of football to offer.

"So, from afar, for six months, I was looking in at Ronaldo's results, at the league, watching some games and watching some highlights. 

"I think from that moment, the league around the world had become a very popular talking point for everyone. 

"After Cristiano's arrival, even more big-name signings, talents and skill sets were joining the league."