A simple paper napkin, signed in blue ballpoint pen, holds the weight of footballing history. This seemingly ordinary item, worth $380,000, is set to go under the hammer in March, capturing a pivotal moment that changed the course of Lionel Messi’s career and FC Barcelona’s destiny.
In 2000, a 13-year-old Messi, then a prodigious talent, was brought to the attention of Barcelona by agent Horacio Gaggioli. After an initial audition, the crucial decision to secure Messi’s future was scribbled onto a 6.5 x 6.5-inch napkin during lunch at the Pompeia tennis club. Carles Rexach, the club’s sporting director, penned the commitment: “In Barcelona… hereby agrees to sign the player Lionel Messi…”
This seemingly casual act, witnessed by Josep Minguella, a transfer advisor, marked the beginning of an era. Messi, honed at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, blossomed into one of the greatest footballers ever. His 778 appearances for the club, record-breaking goals, and 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions Leagues, stand as a testament to the napkin’s significance.
“This is one of the most thrilling items I have ever handled,” declares Ian Ehling of Bonhams, the auction house handling the sale. “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.”
The napkin, a symbol of chance, talent, and a pivotal decision on a seemingly ordinary day is now poised to fetch a hefty sum. Its ultimate destination, whether in the hands of a die-hard Messi fan, a collector of sporting memorabilia, or even Barcelona itself, remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: this unassuming napkin holds a story that transcends its humble beginnings, forever etched in the annals of football history.
