Legendary napkin from Messi’s signing with Barcelona goes to auction

The napkin bearing the historic signature of 13-year-old Lionel Messi on his first contract with Barcelona is set to be auctioned in March, with a starting price of £300,000 ($381,000), as announced by the British auction house Bonhams on Wednesday.

Dated December 2000, the napkin captures the moment when Carles Rexach, the then sporting director of Barcelona, reached an agreement with Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father, and agent Horacio Gaggioli to bring the Argentine teenager into the club, eventually becoming its all-time top scorer.

This pivotal event in football history unfolded during a lunch meeting between Rexach and Messi senior, addressing concerns about the lack of response following Lionel’s initial trials at the Spanish club. The napkin, originating from the Pompeia tennis club, bears the inscription: “In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and in 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.”

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The agreement, officially sanctioned by then club president Joan Gaspart, was formally signed on the same night. A month later, Barcelona completed the signing of Messi, marking the commencement of his remarkable 20-year tenure with the Catalan club.

Over the course of his illustrious career, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played a crucial role in Barcelona’s success, contributing to 35 titles, making a record 782 appearances, and scoring 674 goals.