Recovered from the stands at Lusail. VAR chip verified. Preserved by the Argentine fan who was there.
In the 108th minute of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final — widely regarded as the greatest football match ever played — Lionel Messi scored to put Argentina ahead 3–2 in extra time against France.
During the celebration that followed, Paulo Dybala kicked the match ball into the stands. It landed in the Argentine section at Lusail Stadium, where it was recovered by Ignacio Soto and his brother Juan. FIFA security personnel cleared them to keep the ball as they exited the stadium.
The ball remains in Ignacio's possession in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It contains the original FIFA VAR chip — the same embedded sensor technology used to verify every match ball in the tournament — providing a forensic path to authentication.
Full provenance documentation is available for review by journalists, authentication professionals, and institutional partners.
The story has been covered by major Argentine sports and news outlets. English-language and international media inquiries are welcome.
With the 2026 World Cup three months away, Ignacio is seeking to exhibit the ball at FIFA Fan Festivals in host cities across the United States and Mexico — making it accessible to the fans and communities who live for the game.
Exhibition proposals have been submitted to host committees in Miami, New York/New Jersey, and Mexico City. Institutional partnerships, museum loans, and cultural programming collaborations are welcome.
The goal is not commercial. It's about making sure a piece of football history is seen, experienced, and preserved — not locked away.
For media inquiries, exhibition proposals, authentication discussions, or partnership opportunities.