The shirt won by Brazilian striker Ronaldo in the 1998 World Cup final and a lock of Diego Maradona’s hair are among over 200 items to be auctioned in Paris on December 15.
Ronaldo — widely recognised as the best footballer in the world at that stage — suffered a convulsive fit hours before kick-off, unbeknownst to the public, and was initially excluded from the line-up before being reinstated ahead of the final, in which he physically struggled and France won 3-0. The incident remains one of the most controversial in World Cup history.
The shirt will be sold by French auctioneers Aguttes on December 15, with the shirt being valued between €40,000 (£33,160 ; $42,250) and €80,000 (£66,320 ; $84,500). Aguttes’ description of the item says it is in “exceptional” condition, and is “probably the shirt Ronaldo wore in the second half of the match.”
Ronaldo began his professional career with Cruzeiro in 1993, netting 44 goals across 47 appearances for the club as a teenager before being sold to PSV Eindhoven in 1994.
He spent two seasons at the Dutch club before starring in Spanish football for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, either side of a spell at Internazionale. However, he suffered a series of debilitating knee injuries and was forced into lengthy absences during the peak ages of his career. He had further spells at Milan and Brazilian club Corinthians before retiring from playing in 2011.
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Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, he scored over 400 professional goals across club and country, winning the 2002 World Cup — where he also won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s highest scorer, with eight goals.
The auction on December 15 will have a total of 212 sports items, which will also include a lock of hair from the late Diego Maradona.
Taken in 2018, two years prior to the Argentinean’s death, the lock of hair which is €35,000 (£29,000 ; $36,970) and €50,000 (£58,000; $73,940). The auctioneers say the lock measures between 3 and 4 centimeters, and that it was cut by his friend Stefano Ceci in 2018 in Dubai.
Other items on sale include the WBA World Boxing Champion belt won by Evander Holyfield during his 1996 bout against Mike Tyson (valued between €40,000 and €80,000), and Roger Federer’s tennis racket which he used during the Wimbledon final in 2005 against Andy Roddick, whom he defeated (valued between €10,000 and €15,000).
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(Top image: Oliver Berg/picture alliance via Getty Images)
