The Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo duel continues in a jersey auction. Which sold for six times more than the other?
A personal moment with Messi helped make his Barcelona jersey one of soccer's most valuable collectibles
The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has produced countless debates over who stands above the other, but the latest comparison between soccer's two icons came in a very different arena.
A shirt worn by Messi during Barcelona ’s 2012 pre-season friendly against Manchester United has sold for $66,107 at auction, comfortably surpassing a Ronaldo jersey from his Real Madrid career that attracted a $10,601 bid.
Both items came from the personal collection of former Manchester United masseur Rod Thornley , who spent years working closely with some of the biggest names in soccer during his time at the club.
The huge difference in price was largely driven by the unique story behind Messi ’s shirt, which wasn't simply collected after the match but personally handed over by the Argentine superstar himself.
How Rod Thornley secured Messi’s unforgettable shirt
The connection between Thornley and the Messi jersey dates back to Barcelona’s goalless draw with Manchester United in August 2012.
Knowing the opportunity to secure a shirt from one of soccer’s greatest-ever players was special, Thornley reached out to former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique before the game.
“I messaged Gerard Pique a couple of days before the game and said, ‘I never ask you for anything, but I need Messi’s shirt from this one,’” Thornley explained.
“At the end of the game Gerard came into our dressing room, grabbed me, and walked me straight into theirs. Messi still had the shirt on his back.”
The moment became even more memorable when Messi personally removed the shirt, signed it and handed it over: “He took it off, signed it to me while I sat there with him, and shook my hand. It was incredible.”
That personal interaction helped make the shirt one of the most valuable pieces from the collection.
Ronaldo and Giggs shirts also attract major bids
The Cristiano Ronaldo shirt included in the auction came from the Portuguese forward’s Real Madrid era during the 2014-15 season.
Unlike the Messi jersey, it was a match-issued shirt rather than one confirmed to have been worn during a game. It also featured a personal message connected to Thornley , who had worked with Ronaldo during his first spell at Manchester United .
While the jersey attracted significant interest, it fell well short of the price achieved by Messi ’s shirt.
The auction also featured other pieces of Manchester United history, including a match-worn shirt belonging to Ryan Giggs from the club’s famous 4-0 Champions League victory over Olympiacos in 2002. That shirt sold for $10,103.
Thornley ’s collection has previously included memorabilia connected to David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt , but none reached the value of the shirt that came directly from Messi after that 2012 meeting.
The auction result added another fascinating chapter to the careers of two players whose legacies continue to generate headlines long after their greatest battles on the pitch.
