Lionel Messi And Vinícius Júnior Are Among Players Supporting A Novel Shirt Auction App

As players across Europe’s top leagues take to the field this weekend, some of their shirts will be thrown over to stadium goers, while others will pass hands at the final whistle. And, for the first time, some game-worn shirts will head to bidding fans after the launch of a new online auction application backed by some of the best soccer names in the world.

The idea—coined AC Momento—modernizes the soccer memorabilia industry by providing an online space where people can compete for their favourite players’ shirts during certain elite European matches. Still in the process of growing, the app does not encompass all top-tier continental teams. So far, its renowned partners include La Liga pair Atlético Madrid and Sevilla, as well as AC Milan and Benfica—two other Champions League participants.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi is among the elite stars backing the company, with Real Madrid duo Vinícius Júnior and Toni Kroos joining him. The other ‘founding members’ include Barcelona icons Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Dani Alves. İlkay Gündoğan, Jack Grealish, César Azpilicueta, Ben Chilwell, Kieran Tierney and Clément Lenglet make up the Premier League contingent. The company says it’s raised $20 million in capital from various investors and founders, some of which also comprise current Blaugrana trio Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto.

The rise of digital tokens has added another dimension to the sports trading card industry in particular, with the overall collectables market valued not far off $5 billion by some estimations. However, this may only be a small fraction of the entire sports memorabilia market’s worth. AC Momento, founded by shirt collector and CEO John Brennan, has approached the business by providing two routes to players’ apparel via the platform.

The first is through the mentioned live mobile auctions, where users can submit offers for first-half shirts during and after games. The second is through an online collections program, which links supporters to historical kits with details on their significance to stars. This initiative has also benefitted players, who now have their treasured items physically stored in one place, and digitally accessible.

“Rediscovering my collection with Momento—it’s been fantastic,” Fabregas said. “These shirts—they are my whole career. They represent something that has happened—that you played a part in, and it’s good to remember because, as I go through the collection, I realize that I forgot some even existed—memories nearly lost to me.”

“I have shirts that are very special to me,” Henry added. There are shirts I’ve broken records in, shirts I’ve won titles in—but I didn’t understand the emotional value they carried for me until going through them with Momento.

“Right now, my career, those shirts, I’m glad Momento can keep them in a secure vault. They used to be everywhere, in one person’s house or another. So to finally have them in one place is very important to me. And for that place to be secure.

“You never know what could happen. Someone could break into your home and steal everything. It happens to players all the time.”

While the concept is not NFT-centered per se, shirt-winners receive a digital certificate validating their unique prize and delivery to their chosen destination. Much like the art world, AC Momento authenticates the items by checking their provenance to understand their past ownership and to ensure they are genuine. It also maintains and photographs collections near works of art in secure storage facilities across Europe.

Depending on the match, and the quality of players on show, available shirts could sell handsomely. If players auctioned some of their collections, bids would soar higher given their rarity and age. Presently, displayed collections are just for public viewing, with players naturally inclined to keep hold of their most precious strips.

Regarding the players backing this operation, Vinícius is the most eye-catching. Brazil’s 22-year-old winger is in the early stages of his career—despite already winning a Champions League final for Real Madrid—and has many more moments ahead of him. In contrast, some other founders have retired or are winding down their illustrious playing careers. For example, Fabregas is now playing for Como in Italy’s Serie B.

With its platform and the growing support of clubs and players, the company is streamlining the soccer memorabilia business, though it remains too early to tell how much of a success it will be longer-term.