Collectors get shirty over sweaty World Cup souvenirs

[SAO PAULO] It may seem like a strange gift to give someone, but a sweaty shirt exchanged with an opponent at the end of a World Cup game has become both a mark of sporting respect and a valuable collector's item.

But a lot of the garments exchanged are never given pride of place in the recipient's home, and many will end up stuffed into plastic bags and stored in garages and attics until the player's career is over and he needs to sell them to raise some money.

When they do so, there are avid collectors all over the world who will pay top dollar for historic match-worn garments. "A shirt or boots worn by a player whose goal wins a pivotal game, such as Luis Suarez against England, or during a moment of pure genius, like Tim Cahill against the Netherlands, would be highly sought-after," Irish c…