A new collaboration between Join The Planet Foundation and Relik turns authenticated memorabilia into purpose-driven investments.
A new UAE-led initiative is bringing together sport, technology and environmental impact through a highly exclusive release of collectible memorabilia linked to Lionel Messi.
Announced by Join The Planet Foundation in collaboration with Relik, the project centres on a curated series of one-of-one items personally worn and used by the football icon. Donated by Messi himself, the pieces will be made available to collectors, with the majority of proceeds directed towards global ocean protection efforts.
Positioned as more than a traditional memorabilia drop, the collection introduces a model where ownership is tied to measurable impact. Each item is secured using Relik’s multi-layer authenticity infrastructure, providing verifiable provenance and traceability through permanent digital certification. For collectors, this ensures both the integrity of the asset and transparency around its contribution to the cause.
“The future of collecting is not only about ownership, but about purpose and trust,” says Walid Tarabih, Founder and CEO of Relik. “These pieces carry real history, and now they also become a way to contribute directly to protecting our oceans.”
For Join The Planet Foundation, the collaboration is as much about awareness as it is about funding. By leveraging Messi’s global influence, the initiative aims to draw attention to the urgency of ocean conservation while offering collectors a more tangible way to engage with the issue.
“Protecting our oceans requires global attention, and this collection does exactly that,” says Samir Suleymanov, President of the foundation. “It connects people to a cause in a way that feels immediate and personal.”
The rollout will take place through a phased campaign, building engagement across the global collector community before culminating in a dedicated release on Relik’s marketplace. Participants will gain access to authenticated pieces tied directly to one of the most recognisable figures in sport, while supporting environmental initiatives with long-term impact.
As the lines between luxury, technology and purpose continue to evolve, this collaboration reflects a broader shift in how value is defined. In this case, rarity is not just about exclusivity, but about legacy, accountability and the role collecting can play in shaping something beyond ownership.
