Football fans show their love for the Beautiful Game in many different ways - following their teams home and away and watching the sport's biggest superstars on television are just part of the story.
For as long as football has existed, its loyal supporters have also collected a wide array of objects that have shaped people's understanding and knowledge of the world's most popular pastime.
大象传媒 Bitesize examines some fascinating items of memorabilia - items which help reveal why, for billions of people around the world, football is much more than just a game.
Maradona and the world's most expensive football shirt
Why on earth would someone pay a record 拢7.14m for a football shirt?
Because it was the shirt worn by the Argentinian superstar Diego Maradona when he scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals.
It was put up for auction in May 2022 by former England player Steve Hodge, who swapped shirts with Maradona following the match, which Argentina won 2-1. It was later reported that Maradona swapped Hodge's shirt with an Argentina teammate who had been given Gary Lineker's - who also played for England that day.
Maradona's shirt isn't only the most expensive football jersey in the world, it is one of the priciest pieces of sports memorabilia ever sold.
Messi and the world's most expensive... napkin?!?
OK, so a shirt worn in a legendary match went for more than 拢7m. But鈥 why would a paper napkin sell at 拢762,000?
Because it was the napkin on which Argentina legend Lionel Messi's first ever Barcelona contract was drawn up and signed.
The Messi napkin, sold at auction in May 2024, dates back to December 2000, and saw Barcelona promising to sign the then 13 year old. He joined the Spanish giants a month later and went on to become their record goal scorer, winning 10 Spanish League championships and four Champions League titles during a 17-year career at Camp Nou.
The napkin - put up for sale by football agent Horacio Gaggioli - was signed at a restaurant meeting arranged by Barcelona's director Carles Rexach, who invited Messi's father Jorge to lunch, after Messi's first trial with the club.
Written in Spanish in blue ink, the agreement reads: "In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona's sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon."
You can't underestimate the versatility - and potential long-term value - of a paper napkin!
Keeping FA Cup glory in the family
For footballers Harry Johnson Senior and Harry Johnson Junior, the FA Cup couldn't have been any more important.
Each won the famous trophy for Sheffield United - Harry Sr in 1902 and Harry Jr in 1925. Only three other father and son duos have achieved such a double feat - Frank Lampard Sr and Jr, Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Peter and Kasper Schmeichel. But the Johnsons were the first!
Their medals were part of a fan's collection of 200 lots, which sold at auction for 拢392,000 in 2021. They went for 拢9,038 (Harry Sr's) and 拢10,243 (Harry Jr's).
The highest single price achieved from the sale was for a Football League Division One championship medal awarded to Harry Cawthorne, of Huddersfield Town, in 1923/24. It was sold for 拢19,280. The items also included a signed Manchester United shirt worn by Sir Bobby Charlton in the 1960s, which sold for 拢18,075.
The 1966 World Cup from a different angle
Football memorabilia comes in many different forms - and you don't need to have been a serial trophy winner to leave behind a valuable legacy.
Harold Martin was the chief liaison officer for press reporters during matches held at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield during the 1966 World Cup, which saw England triumph over West Germany in the final at Wembley.
Their famous victory has been well-documented down the decades, but Mr Martin's prized possessions provide a different insight. He kept a diary of his work during the tournament and this, together with his press bag, mobile desk and press passes, along with an autographed menu from the post-World Cup final dinner, are included in an exhibition organised by the Sheffield Home of Football (SHOF) charity at Sheffield Town Hall throughout summer 2024.
Harold Martin's 1966 World Cup diary
- Image source, Sheffield City Council/Darlene Dickens
Image caption, Entries from 27 June - 2 July
Harold Martin was a reporter who worked at Hillsborough stadium during the 1966 World Cup held in England.
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The collection was made available to the exhibition by Mr Martin's daughter, Darlene Dickens.
When it was part of your dad's everyday life, a collection like this wouldn't necessarily seem so extraordinary, as Stephen Burke, civic office manager at Sheffield Town Hall, explained: "Darlene genuinely didn鈥檛 understand the significance of her father鈥檚 role in telling the story of the World Cup and England鈥檚 success."
The power of Panini
Companies that produce collectible stickers have a reputation for celebrating major footballing events.
Panini is one of them. Their football stickers are as cherished and collectible today as when first launched in Italy by brothers Benito and Giuseppe Panini in 1961. The first global hit for the company was the album for the 1970 World Cup, held in Brazil.
Collecting stickers captured the imagination of young fans around the world, and school playgrounds became full of youngsters eager to complete their own swaps and transfer deals.
The company continues to develop - in 2023, for the first time, fans of the English Women's Super League (WSL) could start swapping stickers of their favourite players. The FA partnered with Panini for an album holding nearly 350 stickers, and Manchester City and England striker Chloe Kelly said it was a "huge moment" for players and will "inspire the next generation of girls".
Not all stickers will be worth a fortune in years to come, although a small number have made thousands or their owners. Currently, the world's most expensive Panini sticker is the one depicting - you鈥檝e guessed it - Argentina's Diego Maradona. It featured him at just 19 years old, playing for Argentinos Juniors before he became a superstar in Europe, where he played for Barcelona and Napoli. It sold for more than 拢400,000 at an auction in 2021!
This article was published in August 2024
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