The shirt worn in the 2022 World Cup semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia on Dec 13, 2022 (left), and the shirt worn in the 2022 World Cup final match between Argentina and France on Dec 18, 2022 (right), are displayed during a Sotheby's auction media preview of six 2022 FIFA World Cup match-worn shirts belonging to Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi, in New York City on Nov 30, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

Six shirts worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina's triumphant run at the 2022 World Cup were sold for $7.8 million at an auction in New York on Thursday.

Auction house Sotheby's said the price for the set of shirts shattered the previous record for the sale of an item associated with the player, making it the most valuable sporting memorabilia auctioned this year.

The collection included the shirt Messi wore during the first half of the final against France in Qatar.

In this file photo dated Dec 18, 2022, Argentina's Lionel Messi (center) celebrates with the trophy in front of the fans after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. (PHOTO / AP)

"These historic shirts are not only a tangible reminder of one of the most important moments in the history of sports but are principally connected to the pinnacle moment in the career of the most decorated football player in history," Sotheby's Head of Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said.

READ MORE: Messi's 2022 WCup shirts expected to fetch record auction price

Michael Jordan’s jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Final holds the record for the highest price paid for a game-worn sports memorabilia item, fetching $10.1 million last year.