The historic napkin that changed the life of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi is set to go up for auction next month. The napkin, on which Carles Rexach, sports director of FC Barcelona, agreed to sign the 13-year-old Messi, is expected to fetch between 350 thousand and 585 thousand euros at auction. The napkin, which was kept in a safe by Messi’s representative, Horacio Caggioli, has become a significant piece of football history.
The agreement, hastily written on the napkin after a tennis match, assured Messi’s father that Barcelona was committed to signing his son. This calmed the nerves of the Messi family and was the beginning of the end of a saga that led to Messi’s official signing by Barcelona and his early successes with the club.
The napkin, signed by Rexach and witnessed by agents Minguella and Gaggioli, is a reminder of the faith that Barcelona had in the young Messi, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in football history. The auction is set to take place between March 18 and 27, giving collectors and fans an opportunity to own a piece of football history.