The napkin on which a commitment was made to Messi for a contract from FC Barcelona was written in December 2000. PHOTO BY BONHAMS/SWNS
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A historic napkin that secured teenage Lionel Messi’s move to FC Barcelona is to be auctioned.
Written in December 2000, it put the 13-year-old on a path to be widely considered the greatest footballer of all time.
The napkin sketches out a commitment to a contract from Carles Rexach, Barcelona’s Sporting Director, and is signed by Messi.
The original napkin in blue ink is being offered at Bonhams on behalf of Argentine agent, Horacio Gaggioli, and has a starting price of £300,000 (Over $380,000).
Written in Spanish, it reads: “In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona’s sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon.”
The statement is signed by Carles Rexach, a longstanding player and coach for the club and Josep Minguella, the transfer advisor to the club who, together with Rexach, arranged for Messi’s tryout in September 2000.
Horacio Gaggioli, the Argentine agent who brought Messi to the attention of Carles Rexach, was also at the table and signed the napkin.
Messi’s individual accolades include eight Ballon d’Or awards, the most coveted personal trophy for footballers. He has broken numerous records, including being Barcelona’s all-time top scorer.
In 2012, he achieved a historic feat by scoring 91 goals in all competitions, surpassing the previous record held by Gerd Müller.
In 2022, Messi captained Argentina to win the World Cup in Qatar in a game hailed as the finest final ever.
Ian Ehling, Head of Fine Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams New York said: “This is one of the most thrilling items I have ever handled. Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career.
“It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
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