man wearing brazil shirt while watching football on tv

Football memorabilia is often seen as an excellent investment for sports fans. It can be a great way to show off your team's loyalty, as well as a potential source of income in the future. With the right care and some foresight, the right piece of memorabilia can be worth a fortune.

From signed footballs to classic jerseys, football memorabilia can be an incredibly valuable asset. Some items can even be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. It’s important to understand that not all memorabilia is worth the same, and some pieces may have more value than others. Let's look at some of the most valuable football memorabilia and the story behind them.

1. 1863 Football Rulebook

The 1863 football rulebook is perhaps one of the most well-known pieces of football memorabilia that could be worth a fortune. It was written by Ebenezer Cobb Morley and is considered the first official set of rules for the game. This is where the original 23 rules were first recorded and published and is considered a historic document that changed the course of football forever. It's incredibly rare, with only two known copies in existence. The original copy was sold at auction for £881,250 in 2011 at a Sotheby's auction in London, making it the most expensive football memorabilia ever sold.

2. Pelé's Signed Brazil Shirt

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or Pelé, is one of the most iconic football players of all time, and his signed Brazil shirt is a highly sought-after piece of memorabilia. The iconic No. 10 shirt was worn by Pelé during the 1970 World Cup Final and is considered one of the most iconic pieces of football memorabilia. During that time, it was only expected to fetch anywhere between £30,000-50,000. However, it was sold for a staggering £157,750 in 2002, making it one of the most expensive football memorabilia ever sold.

3. Jules Rimet World Cup Replica

The Jules Rimet Replica is a copy of the original World Cup trophy, which was awarded to the winners of the World Cup from 1930 to 1970. However, just a few months before the 1966 World Cup in England, the trophy was stolen but was eventually recovered. This pushed the Football Association to manufacture a replica of the original trophy. FIFA bought the trophy for an astonishing £254,500 in 1997. Now it sits on display at the English National Football Museum in Manchester.

4. Diego Maradona's Hand of God Shirt

For hardcore football fans, Diego Maradona is considered an Argentinian legend known for his famous "Hand of God" moment. It was during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match against England that Maradona used his hand to score a goal, which has since been referred to as the Hand of God. Because of that moment, the light blue Argentina shirt he wore during the match has become an iconic piece of football memorabilia. The shirt was sold at a Sotheby's auction for no more than £7.1 million, which is probably the highest price ever paid at an auction for a piece of sports memorabilia.

Conclusion

Football memorabilia has become increasingly popular in the UK over the past few years, and some of the most valuable items can fetch a fortune. With their timeless appeal and potential for appreciation, these memorabilia items can be a great way to preserve the history of the sport and make a nice financial return in the future.

If you're interested in getting your hands on your very own signed football memorabilia, there's only one place to go - online! Signed Memorabilia 4U has a wide range of authentic signed football memorabilia, including everything from England cricket shirts to rugby memorabilia or autographed balls. So, why not take a look and see what you can find? Check out our collection today and take home a piece of footballing history!