Unsold: Maradona's Hair Lock and Ronaldo's 1998 World Cup Jersey Fail to Find Buyers in Paris Auction

Diego Maradona’s hair lock and Ronaldo Nazario’s jersey from the 1998 World Cup final, where Brazil lost to France, failed to attract buyers at a Paris auction organized by Aguttes last Sunday. Despite being valued at €35,000–€50,000 for the hair lock and €40,000–€80,000 for the jersey, neither item was sold, François Thierry, Aguttes' sports memorabilia expert, confirmed to EFE.

Thierry did not rule out a second attempt to sell these historic items. If unsold, Maradona’s lock of hair will be returned to its owner, Stefano Ceci, a close friend of the late football legend, who obtained the item in 2018 in Dubai.

Mixed Results at the Auction

The auction featured 212 sports memorabilia items, 82% of which were sold, generating €400,000 in total with buyers from 17 countries. Among the highlights, Evander Holyfield’s world champion belt from 1996 fetched €78,000, Bobby Moore’s 1970 World Cup jersey was sold for €30,000, and Roger Federer’s racket from the 2005 Wimbledon final went for nearly €23,000.

While some high-profile items failed to sell, Aguttes expressed satisfaction with the overall results, which reaffirmed the strong global interest in sports collectibles.

Upcoming Opportunities for Collectors

Aguttes is now preparing for its next auction, scheduled for late February, which will focus on vintage football cards with unique features aimed at attracting specialized collectors. The event promises to be another major highlight for sports memorabilia enthusiasts.

Although Maradona’s hair lock and Ronaldo’s jersey remain unsold, these pieces symbolize the deep emotional and historical connection between sports legends and their fans.

• Unsold items: Maradona’s hair lock and Ronaldo’s 1998 World Cup jersey failed to find buyers, despite being valued at up to €50,000 and €80,000, respectively.
• Top sales:
• Evander Holyfield’s 1996 world champion belt: sold for €78,000.
• Bobby Moore’s 1970 World Cup jersey: sold for €30,000.
• Roger Federer’s 2005 Wimbledon racket: nearly €23,000.
• Global participation: Buyers from 17 countries contributed to the €400,000 total.
• Future auction: Aguttes will host a football card-focused auction in February, targeting specialized collectors.