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NFT marketplace EX Sports Unveils the Diego Maradona NFT collection
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Dubai-based NFT platform EX Sports recently pre-launched the Maradona NFT collection – a set of digital collectibles dedicated to the football icon Diego Armando Maradona.
The collection was announced at an exhibition auction at the end of October to celebrate the former Argentine professional footballer who passed away last year. Featuring ten non-fungible phygital tokens linked to the World Soccer Treasure items from the Maradona estate, the NFTs are now available on the Maradona10 website.
The launch, which happened at the DMCC Crypto Center, was preceded by a sales event for the remaining items that will run throughout November.
One-of-a-kind player, one-of-a-kind collection
Widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, Maradona was a star, entertaining football fans throughout his career especially during his prime at Napoli.
Maradona during his playing days at Napoli
The football legend also played for local clubs Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors as well as Barcelona and league rivals Sevilla, primarily operating as a classic number 10. The Argentine, one of the best-advanced playmakers, arguably defined the position and brought a lot of respect to the number 10 jersey.
NFTs and their physical memorabilia
The ten Platinum Edition sports memorabilia obtained from the Maradona Estate are part of those representing the legacy of Maradona, who was crowned joint-winner of the Player of the 20th Century by FIFA. The physical items were converted into NFTs, and all got approval from the World Soccer Treasure.
The non-fungible tokens are grouped into different categories, with the Platinum Edition NFTs being the premium tier. The NFTs in this tier are sold alongside their equivalent physical memorabilia, and the first four were already auctioned in the first bidding session on 30th October.
The sold out items
The bunch – the Napoli contract signing pen, the 1986 Argentina signed jersey, the 1979 best player trophy, and a signed Sean Garnier's freestyle football – were sold to the highest bidders for a sum of $79,000.
The S.T. Dupont pen that the precocious talent used to ink his move from Barcelona to Naples after two injury-hit seasons at the Spanish club sold for the highest price, $26,000. This transfer set his second world record fee after his move to Barcelona.
The trophy El Mundo presented to the late football great for following an impressive display during the 1979 FIFA Youth World Cup left the store for $11,000. The signed official 1986 World Cup Argentina Number 10 jersey of Maradona and freestyle football (also bearing the signature of Pele) went for $24,000 and $18,000, respectively.
Six more Platinum NFTs and other associated limited-edition “Gold NFT” collectibles are up for grabs until the end of November. They can be accessed through the global EX Sports blockchain platform or directly on the Maradona.io site.
The Maradona Painting
One of the biggest highlights of the Dubai exhibition event involved lapidarist & portrait artist Hans Ulrich Pauly and his son Florian. The pair illustrated the process of creating and NFT through a well-crafted and detailed painting.
The painting features a 23-carat gold and rock crystal frame and a picture of the football star. Much like the ten items which stand for Maradona's legendary jersey number, the painting also carries a story. The painting will be sold as 1960 pieces – representing Maradona's birth year.
CV Labs and World Football Collection on board as partners
EX Sports collaborated with CV Labs and World Football Collection for the project. Matteo Pella, the latter firm's COO, lauded the collaboration, explicitly noting that the Maradona represented a lot and left a great legacy in the world of football. EX Sports also partnered with 4Art Technologies, with the Swiss-based transaction and cataloging service provider helping mint and authenticate the NFTs.
You can check out the available digital collectibles here and also find out which have been sold and for how much.
