Resembling yet another used napkin, the napkin slated for auction in New York, USA, is expected to fetch up to $635,000, a sum magnified by its exceptional significance in altering the fate of contemporary football icon Lionel Messi.
Undeniably, Lionel Messi, the current star of Inter Miami, has ascended to the zenith of his career owing to his innate talent. Notably, Messi has clinched a total of 8 Ballon d’Or titles in his illustrious playing career, a testament to his greatness in modern football.
The name Messi is once again in the spotlight as the napkin bearing the signature of the Argentine star’s first contract with Barca is set for auction. The renowned auction house Bonhams of England will sell this napkin in an online auction in New York from March 18 to 27, with an estimated price ranging from $380,000 to $635,000.
Ian Ehling, a representative of Bonhams, remarked, “I am genuinely anticipating it will fetch an even higher price. This is one of the most intriguing items I’ve ever handled. Indeed, it is a paper napkin, but it holds significance as the napkin that marked the beginning of Lionel Messi’s career. It has changed Messi’s life, the future of Barcelona, and has brought some of football’s most glorious moments.” The napkin will be displayed in New York, Paris, London, and will be open for public viewing free of charge, preceding the anticipated auction garnering special attention.
After honing his skills at La Masia, Barca’s renowned youth academy, Messi made his debut for the first team in 2004 at the age of 16, becoming the youngest player to don the Barca jersey in an official match at that time. This marked the onset of Messi’s legendary career, during which he amassed 35 titles during his tenure at Camp Nou, including 10 La Liga championships while scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona.
However, to achieve such resplendent success, Messi had to endure numerous hardships, even moments of despair. Fortunately, Messi rose above, with the tangible evidence being the napkin bearing his first contract with Barcelona.
Born in 1987 into a working-class family in Rosario, approximately 300 km north of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, Messi caught Barca’s attention at the age of 13. Messi and his father, Jorge Messi, subsequently flew to Barcelona. Following an impressive first training session showcasing his adept ball-handling skills within a confined space, Messi and his father were accommodated in room 546 of the Plaza Hotel in Barcelona. From September 17 to October 3, 2020, the Messis repeated a familiar journey, commuting by subway to the training ground and back home.
Interestingly, despite his diligence, no Barca officials stepped forward to ensure the certainty of the future of this diminutive child. Jorge Messi began to worry as Messi missed several school days in Argentina. As faith dwindled, Carles Rexach, Barca’s technical director at the time, took notice of Messi. Rexach observed Messi for 10 minutes as the youngster effortlessly bypassed four opposing players before scoring in a youth team match for Barca.
However, Rexach departed without contacting Jorge. Consequently, the Messi father and son packed their bags and returned to Argentina. Messi resumed schooling and rejoined Newell’s Old Boys youth team, citing pneumonia as the reason for his absence. The Messi family received no response from Barca in October and November 2000.
When all seemed lost, Rexach finally scheduled a meeting with Jorge Messi at a restaurant in Barcelona. The Barca technical director requested a waiter for a piece of napkin and inscribed on it in blue ink: “In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, under the witness of Mr. Minguella and Horacio Gaggioli, I – Carles Rexach, technical director of Barca – commit to signing a contract with Messi, disregarding any other opinions, as long as we adhere to the agreed-upon terms.”
The signing ceremony of Messi’s first contract with Barcelona subsequently took place at a hotel, a few blocks away from the club’s office. Although the official contract had been drafted, Messi’s representative, Horacio Gaggioli, kept that historic napkin for 24 years until the decision to auction it.