April 1, 2009 Lionel Messi Argentina 2010 FIFA WCQ Match Worn Jersey – LOAs from ARG Coach, MEARS & 1930 World Cup Museum w/ Photomatch

Presented here is a remarkable piece of international football history: a Lionel Messi match-worn Argentina home jersey from the April 1, 2009 World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz. At more than 11,000 feet above sea level at Estadio Hernando Siles, Diego Maradona’s side suffered one of the most stunning results in the nation’s history, a 6-1 defeat that became a defining moment of the road to South Africa 2010. For collectors, a jersey tied to a match of this notoriety, worn by the game’s greatest player of his generation, is exceptionally rare.

The jersey is an adidas Formotion player-issue model in the classic sky blue and white vertical stripes, tagged size L. The front displays the embroidered AFA crest topped with two gold stars, the adidas performance logo, and a heat-applied “10” in black with the perforated dot pattern specific to player issue. The official “2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers” patch appears on the right sleeve, and the embossed tonal graphics across the body and the “ARGENTINA” crest at the back of the collar are consistent with the period. The reverse carries a large matching “10,” without a player name, as was standard for Argentina in qualifying play at the time.

The garment shows clear signs of match use, including crinkling and wear to the heat-applied numbers and light soiling throughout. It has been photomatched to the April 1, 2009 match, confirming its use in the game.

The jersey comes with letters of authenticity from a member of the Argentina national team coaching staff, from MEARS, and from the 1930 World Cup Museum, giving it a strong provenance chain. This is a significant opportunity to acquire an authenticated, photomatched Messi national team jersey from a match that remains part of World Cup qualifying lore.