Enjoy The Moment! Antonella Roccuzzo and Leo Messi watching Maria Becerra’s brief presentation yesterday at the BRESH in Miami

The Contract Document Outlining Lionel Messi’s Stay with Barcelona Raises Nearly $1 Million

For anyone curious about Lionel Messi’s compensation during his first full season with Inter Miami, the answer is finally available thanks to the release of the current season’s salary information by Major League Soccer earlier this week. ($20.4 million, as per the analysis conducted by The Athletic.) But there are other ways to use Messi’s playing time than shelling out eight figures, and one of them was just unveiled at an auction.

The napkin that facilitated Messi’s transfer to Barcelona from his previous club reportedly fetched $968,000 at auction, more than double the first amount, according to NPR’s Chloe Veltman.

Impressive outcome for an incredibly exciting piece,” remarked Ian Ehling, Head of Rare Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams New York, in a statement. “A paper napkin it is, but it is the renowned napkin that served as the catalyst for Lionel Messi’s professional career.”

The napkin bears the date of December 14, 2000, and it details the commitment of Barcelona to acquire Messi upon his arrival in Spain at the age of thirteen. Joining forces with one of the sport’s all-time greats on the basis of a bargain sketched out on a napkin? It sounds like something out of a “stranger than fiction” novel, but here we are.In 2003, Messi made his senior squad debut and the following year, he officially joined Barcelona’s roster. After leaving Barcelona, he had a stellar career with both Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami C.F., but it was during his tenure at the club that he truly made his mark. And to think, a napkin was the starting point.