When I go to watch my team play football there’s a big sign on the the stand: “side before self”.
But, when we go to sports collectibles market it’s a world of individuals.
Which gives us a paradox to explore!
We love heroes, of course.
But, almost all of the world’s most popular sports are team games.
Maradona’s Goal of the Century in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter final tie is perhaps the ultimate individual moment in football.
But, it doesn’t happen without Jorge Burruchaga’s off-the-ball run that ties up England full back Gary Stevens and delays his cover tackle.
This isn’t a science, so you’ll have to excuse us not publishing our workings here, and being guided somewhat by sentiment as we calculate
The 5 most collectible teams in sports memorabilia
5 - Ferrari
Michael Schumacher in a 2005 Ferrari, a winning team on the track and at auctions.
When it comes to the most valuable cars in F1 collecting history, Mercedes has the edge, with one of their 1950s Streamliner cars going for over £42 million.
But look down the list of most valuable cars and you soon hit a name, Michael Schumacher, who is probably the most collectible individual in modern F1 (for tragic reasons).
And, then you have mystique. The Enzo Ferrari story. And the prancing horse (taken from a WWI Italian fighter ace). And red.
And the best record in the sport.
Specialist F1 fan site, said: “no other F1 driver shifts as much merchandise as Lewis Hamilton.”
And he now drives for Ferrari.
4 - Argentina men's national football team
Goal of the Century scorer Diego Maradona with Terry Butcher (seated) of England.
Maradona or Messi?
The greatest team game is dominated by individual stars. And Argentina has the two most collectible modern players by quite a margin.
Maradona’s Hand of God shirt made £7.1 million at auction. It tells a story: the touch of devilry in Maradona’s game that spiced up the divine, sublime skills.
Messi may not have that dark side, but his World Cup 2022 shirts sold for over £6 million. The napkin on which he signed for Barcelona auctioned for £762,400 in 2024. (Barca, Real Madrid, and Manchester United would probably top the list of most collectible club sides.)
Argentina’s long, glorious history in the game gives them 3 trophies. Italy, Germany, and Brazil all have more, but in the modern era Leo and Diego put La Albiceleste top, for now.
3 - Green Bay Packers
A collecting card showing Packer Tony Canadeo, one of the first Green Bay legends and a much-loved figure at the unique team.
History matters in collecting, and the Packers have just about the longest history of any team in the NFL.
They were founded in 1919. They had glory days in the 1930s, and then helped inaugurate the modern era of the game with three titles on the trot (of five in seven years) in 1965 - 1967 that included the first two Superbowls.
Bart Starr was the star player of that team, built by Vince Lombardi, whose tragic death from cancer, aged just 57, in 1970 led the NFL to name their trophy after him.
They also have a highly localised and extremely dedicated fandom, who have sold out every home game since 1960.
Joe Lombardi autographs on footballs can reach towards $18,000. Sets of signed tickets and programmes from Super Bowls with him and Starr signing are listed on line for $30,000.
2 LA Lakers
A Kobe Bryant jersey sold for $7 million in April 2025. Image courtesy of Sotheby's.
There’s no harm in collecting in having a big fanbase.
And the Lakers have that.
They also have Hollywood glamour and a slew of famous fans.
Plus, the players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Elgin Baylor.
When a Wilt Chamberlain jersey was sold for $4.9 million. Another one is due to sell soon.
And the recent world-record breaking dual card featured Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and Laker Kobe Bryant, whose awful death in a 2020 helicopter crash, only added to his legend.
1 - New York Yankees
First among equals when it come to the Yankees, Babe Ruth is one of many great names who wore their famous pin-striped jersey. Click the image to own this signed Ruth picture.
Most valuable ever sports collectible? The jersey Babe Ruth wore while playing for the Yankees in the Called Shot World Series game of 1932. It sold for over $24 million.
It took the record from a Mickey Mantle trading card. Mantle was a lifelong Yankee. His card - made a rarity by an executive’s impetuous destruction of a host of cards - sold for nearly $13 million.
Joe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe and became a legend in sport and popular culture (though sadly it never made him very happy). Joe was a Yankee.
Lou Gehrig’s jersey will be sold on October 22, 2025, and is likely to break a record that already sits at $2.58 million for this player. Another Yankee.
Their logo is everywhere.
They have fans (and haters) on every continent.
And they’re easily the world’s most collectible sports team.
Collecting sports memorabilia today
As the world’s largest (by value) dealer in rare collectibles we love sports memorabilia.
Take a look at some of what we have here.
