The market for signed soccer jerseys has skyrocketed in recent years. But what exactly determines the value of a signed jersey?

You might think it’s nearly impossible to slap a price tag on one and that it’s all about “what a crazy guy’s willing to pay.” With a bit of research and experience, though, you can make pretty solid estimates about their commercial value.

So, what determines the value of a signed soccer jersey? Let’s dive into it.

1. Who signed it?

Think back to the legends of the game – Cruyff, Maradona, Pelé. And more recently, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zidane. Why do these names stand out while thousands of other players fade into darkness? Simple: they were the best of their generation and have secured a special place in football history.

The value of a signed jersey heavily depends on who signed it. Everyone knows a Messi signature is worth big bucks. A signature from a benchwarmer? Not so much.

2. Which shirt got signed?

If you had to choose, would you go for a signed Messi jersey from FC Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain? Nine out of ten fans would pick the Barcelona kit, preferably from a season packed with trophies.

Replica shirts

The team (or country) matters. The ultimate score? A crisp signature on an official Adidas, Nike, or other top brand replica shirt, complete with the original name and number. And if it’s got league badges on the sleeves, even better!

A common issue with players from back in the day is the limited availability of original replica shirts from their era. Every football fan dreams of owning the original Le Coq Sportif Argentina jersey from the 1986 World Cup.

But back then, replica production was much lower than it is today, making these shirts incredibly rare. On a side note, these classic replica shirts have sparked an entire collectibles scene around them.

Retro shirts

Many iconic jerseys have been re-released as officially licensed retro versions. You could call them ‘A Blast from the Past,’ but ironically, they’re produced in the present.

Sure, they don’t have the same value as the originals, but they’re often the only option for sports memorabilia companies to get signed during private sessions with former players.

Match-issue vs. match-worn

A more niche category is the match-issued shirts – those prepared for the player but never worn. Less special than match-worn, but rarer than fan-store replicas.

Even more exclusive? A shirt that’s not just signed but also match-worn. Each player only wears a limited number of shirts each season, so the supply of match-worn jerseys is tiny.

The holy grail for any sports memorabilia collector is a jersey worn during an iconic moment. Like Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt, which sold for $9.3 million in 2022. But hey, if you could afford that one, you wouldn’t be here reading this, would you?

3. Authenticity: proving it’s real

Owning a beautiful shirt signed by a football icon is one thing, but if you can’t prove the signature is authentic, it’s worthless. So how do you prove it’s legit?

Certificate of Authenticity (COA)

The most reliable way is to buy directly from a reputable sports memorabilia company. They run private signing sessions and work directly with players, knowing exactly where and when the shirt was signed. You’ll get a certificate of authenticity (COA) to confirm the signature’s legitimacy.

Here’s a reality check: anyone with a printer can whip up a certificate of authenticity. Seriously, 99.9% of these certificates are totally worthless. So, always do your homework on the reputation and practices of the sports memorabilia company that issued the certificate.

Third-party authenticators

If a COA from a reputable memorabilia company is missing, third-party authenticators like PSA/DNA, Beckett, and JSA can verify the signature’s authenticity. This is always recommended if there’s no official COA. However, even expert opinions are still just that – opinions.

Photo-matching

With match-worn shirts, the challenge is even greater. Thankfully, clubs and sports organizations are getting better at documenting these, though there’s still room for improvement.

In the US, photo-matching is often used. A third-party authentication service compares unique features, imperfections, and myriad other factors present in game-worn memorabilia to high-quality images, providing a conclusive opinion that ties the item to a specific game (or games).

A ‘game-used Jordan’ jersey with a Chicago Bulls letter was the gold standard and would sell for around $50K. But if that same jersey is photo-matched to a specific game, it jumps to $750,000.

Unlike signatures, third-party authenticators can provide undeniable proof for match-worn jerseys. However, in practice, this is not always as easy as it seems and sometimes impossible to do.

4. Quality matters

Alright, we’ve got a cool, highly desired soccer jersey signed by a football icon. Are we done? Not quite. As with a rare sports card or a classic car, the condition of the item is still crucial.

The condition of the jersey is a funny thing. For a match-used jersey, you actually want to see the dirt and stains that prove it’s been in the game. But for a replica jersey, you want it to be as spotless as possible.

The quality of a signature can vary wildly. There’s a big difference – also in value – between a hurried, incomplete scribble (more like initials) and a full signature where you can tell the player put in some effort.

It also matters whether the right type of pen was used, ensuring the signature is clear and in the right spot.

In the end, it’s the signature that makes the shirt unique and brings you closer to the player.

As you can see, many factors influence the value of a signed soccer jersey. We haven’t even touched on external factors like a player’s rising or falling popularity. What legacy does a player leave behind?

So, if you’re diving into the world of signed soccer jerseys, keep these pointers in mind and you’ll have a better shot at scoring a valuable piece of football history!