Messi·Barcelona Legend's 'Napkin Contract' Sold for 1.3 Billion Won at Auction

Messi wrote spontaneously on a napkin at a restaurant at age 13
"A single paper napkin changed his destiny"

The world's greatest soccer star Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) signed his first contract with the prestigious Spanish professional football club FC Barcelona when he was young, and the 'napkin contract' he wrote at that time was auctioned off for 1.3 billion KRW.

British auction house Bonhams announced on the 17th (local time) through its website that "a napkin containing a promise of Messi's contract to join Barcelona when he was 13 years old was sold at an online auction for ?762,400 (about 1.3 billion KRW)." The auction started on the 8th and lasted for a week, and it was sold for three times the starting price of ?300,000 (about 402.5 million KRW).

Messi showed outstanding talent from the time he joined the youth team of CA Newell's Old Boys, based in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 6 in 1995, attracting the interest of several prestigious clubs.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In 2000, Barcelona's technical director Carles Rexach was captivated by 13-year-old Messi and met with his family for scouting. However, although Barcelona recognized Messi's talent, they had no precedent of signing a foreign youth player at age 13, so they did not give a definite answer and kept delaying the contract. Then, Messi's father Jorge Messi sent a final ultimatum saying, "We will look into other teams."

In a hurry, Director Rexach met Messi and his family at a restaurant in Barcelona on December 14, 2000, and created an impromptu contract written in blue pen on a napkin stating, "Regardless of any opposition, Director Rexach will take responsibility and sign Messi." The contract was signed by Director Rexach, Jos? Mar?a Minguella, who was then an advisor in the transfer department, and agent Horacio Gaggioli.

Bonhams commented, "It is just a piece of paper napkin, but this changed the fate of Messi, who became one of the greatest players in history as well as for Barcelona."

Messi played 778 official matches for Barcelona, scoring 672 goals, and led the team to 35 titles including 10 Spanish La Liga championships, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 7 Copa del Rey (King's Cup) titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 Club World Cups, and 3 European Super Cups.