Lionel Messi’s connection to Barcelona dates back to a simple napkin that was recently sold at auction for an impressive amount of money. The napkin, which contained an agreement in principle to sign the then-13-year-old Messi, fetched a staggering sum of £762,400 ($965,000) at a British auction house. This piece of sports history has become a valuable artifact that captures a pivotal moment in Messi’s career.
The napkin was written on almost 25 years ago at a Barcelona tennis club by Horacio Gaggioli, an agent from Messi’s native Argentina. The unsigned contract was written in blue ink in an effort to reassure Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, that the deal to join Barcelona would come to fruition. The napkin, bearing the date Dec. 14, 2000, also contains the signatures of Josep Maria Minguella and Carles Rexach, who were involved in the negotiation process. The fact that such an important agreement was made on a simple napkin highlights the informal nature of Messi’s early connection to the club.
After signing the formal contract with Barcelona, Messi went on to spend nearly two decades with the club. He arrived from Argentina at the age of 13 to join the club’s youth team and made his debut with the first team in 2004. Over the course of 17 seasons, Messi played a crucial role in helping Barcelona secure numerous major trophies, including four Champions League titles and 10 LaLiga championships. His contributions to the club solidified his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Despite his immense success with Barcelona, Messi made the difficult decision to leave the club for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021. Since then, he has continued to make waves in the world of football, recently joining Inter Miami. The sale of the historic napkin serves as a reminder of Messi’s enduring legacy and the remarkable journey that began with a simple agreement written on a piece of paper.
The auction of Lionel Messi’s famous napkin symbolizes the humble beginnings of a footballing legend and the transformative power of a single piece of paper. Messi’s storied career with Barcelona and his continued success on the global stage only add to the significance of this unique artifact.