Paris - Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is pleased to announce its first auction of Sports Memorabilia in an online auction from March 17 to 26, 2025 in Paris. This sale will offer a selection of souvenirs related to football, basketball, cycling, and tennis, as well as the Olympic Games.

Jean-Marc Leynet, a sports expert for 25 years and consultant for the sale, and Julie Mathon, Head of Sale said: "Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is organising an auction dedicated to sports collectibles in Paris for the first time, marking a new stage in the development of this growing market. Auctions of sporting memorabilia have been experiencing unprecedented enthusiasm in recent years. Legendary jerseys of footballers such as Messi, Mbappé or Zidane, rackets of Djokovic, Medvedev or Graf and historical trophies are now rare pieces that bear witness to unforgettable exploits and are now coveted by private collectors or museum institutions."

The sale offers 55 important highlights for fans of football, basketball, tennis, cycling:

• Jersey worn by Lionel Messi in December 1999 with "Newell's Old Boys" during the final of the Pibes 99 tournament. Estimate: €80,000 – €100,000. This jersey was given by Messi himself after a children's league match in 1999 between the teams "Newell's Old Boys" and "General Paz Juniors".

Messi began playing football in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina. From an early age, he showed an exceptional talent for the sport after starting to play at the age of five in the local club in his hometown. Very quickly, his talent was noticed, and the little prodigy donned the jersey of the youth team of Newell's Old Boys, one of the two big clubs in the city with Rosario Central. At the age of thirteen, he joined F.C. Barcelona in Spain, where he became an emblematic player. He achieved exceptional success during his seventeen seasons, before continuing his career at Paris Saint-Germain and then Inter Miami.

This jersey, worn by Lionel Messi during the final of the Pibes 99 tournament, is of particular importance. It was the last shirt used by Messi in an official match with the Argentine national team before his transfer to F.C. Barcelona.

• Pair of boots worn by Lionel Messi with F.C. Barcelona during the return group stage of the Champions League against Chelsea on October 31, 2006 at Camp Nou (Estimate: €40,000 – €60,000). These boots are embroidered and personalized with a patch reading "Leo 19" alongside the Argentine flag and feature an authentic player autograph on both tongues. Because of their rarity, these shoes, made in Germany, are a museum piece.

• Michael JORDAN, Chicago Bulls No. 23 jersey used for the first half of the 1997-1998 NBA Championship regular season. Estimate: €20,000 – €30,000

Michael Jordan is a basketball legend often considered as the greatest player of all time. His career began at the University of North Carolina, where he won the 1984 NCAA Championship. Selected by the Chicago Bulls the same year, thanks to his athleticism and scoring ability, he won 6 NBA Championship titles and five regular-season MVP awards. This jersey represents his sixth and final title with the Bulls and the end of his history with the Bulls.

• Chicago Bulls, Rare commemorative basketball from the 1997 McDonald's Open in Paris, featuring the "Chicago Bulls" team who won the Final against Olympiakós after beating PSG Racing in the Semi-Final. Estimate: €6,000 – €8,000. This exceptional piece includes authentic autographs from Chicago Bulls players, including Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoč, Ron Harper, Scott Burrell, and legendary coach Phil Jackson—a total of 20 signatures.

• Novak DJOKOVIC, Head tennis racket autographed and used by the Champion during the final of the Roland-Garros Tournament on Sunday, June 8, 2014 against Rafael Nadal who won in 4 sets. Estimate: €15 000 - 20 000. Djokovic holds the record for the number of Grand Slam victories (24), including 10 at the Australian Open and 7 at Wimbledon. His career is legendary with 99 titles including 7 Masters. He also won the Davis Cup in 2010 and the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in 2 sets (7-6, 7-6).

• Steffi GRAF, Rare Wilson tennis racket used by the Champion for the Indian Wells Tournament where she won the final against Serena Williams. Estimate: €6,000 - €8,000. Steffi Graf won the Roland Garros Tournament that year before retiring as ranking No. 3.

• PARIS 2024. Official torch of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games designed by designer Mathieu Lehanneur. Made of 100% recycled steel, it is golden (champagne) in colour, measures 70 cm and weighs 1.5 kg and has been made in only 1500 copies. Estimate: €15,000 - €20,000.

• TOKYO 2020. Official torch of the XXXII Summer Olympic Games from 23 July to 8 August 2021. The torch is inspired by the Sakura cherry blossom, Japan's iconic tree, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games emblem on its central part. Estimate: €8,000 - €10,000.

• BEIJING 2022. Official torch of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games.Made of resin-coated carbon fiber composite. Manufactured by Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company. Estimate: €4,000 - €6,000.

• GRENOBLE 1968, an extremely rare set of three official winner medals: Gold, Silver and Bronze for the Ice Hockey events of the X Olympic Winter Games. These three medals in perfect condition are real museum pieces. Estimate: €40,000 - €60,000.

• Jacques ANQUETIL (1934-1987). Exceptional and unique set of five jerseys worn representing the five teams in which the Champion competed. Estimate: €20,000-30,000.

• Eddy MERCKX (born in 1945). Jersey with World Champion stripes worn with the Fiat team during the 1977 season. Estimate: €2,000-3,000. He remains the Champion of all records with 525 career victories including 27 classics, 5 Tour de France, 5 Giro d'Italia, 1 Tour of Spain.