A Historic Napkin: Messi’s Barca Contract Goes Up for Auction
A piece of football history is hitting the auction block: the very napkin on which FC Barcelona secured a young Lionel Messi’s future.
The now-famous napkin, scribbled on by Carles Rexach, Barcelona’s sporting director at the time, dates back to December 14, 2000. Back then, a 13-year-old Messi, already a prodigious talent, was catching the eye of scouts across Europe. To secure him, Rexach reportedly whipped out a napkin at a restaurant and wrote down the basic terms of a contract, promising to sign Messi “under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions.”
This seemingly insignificant napkin marked a turning point. Messi signed it, and the rest, as they say, is history. He went on to become a Barcelona legend, shattering records and leading the club to countless trophies.
Now, this pivotal piece of memorabilia is estimated to fetch a cool £300,000 ($381,000) at Bonhams Auctions in New York. The auction offers a chance to own a tangible piece of footballing history, the moment a napkin secured the signing of a future legend. Whether it’s a die-hard Messi fan or a collector of sporting memorabilia, this unassuming napkin is sure to spark a bidding war.
