• Source:JND
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Lionel Messi had a remarkable career at Barcelona and achieved immense success during his long and loyal 17-year sting with the Laliga giants.

Signing at the age of 13, Messi moved to Barcelona from Argentina and went on to become the best player in the world, winning trophies and scoring goals for fun.

Messi, who was gifted with incredible footballing talent, had his life witness a remarkable turn when he signed his first contract with Barcelona on a napkin in December 2000.

 

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Barca's then sporting director agreed with Jorge Messi, Messi's father, and agent Horacio Gaggioli to recruit the Argentine teenager who went on to become the club's all-time top scorer.

Carles Rexach didn’t have the paperwork ready but he wanted the Argentine teenager as soon as possible hence used a napkin to get the deal done.

 

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On it was written, “In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and in the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona’s sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon.”

In an interesting turn of events, the famous napkin which has been secured in a vault in Andorra and has been part of the club’s rich memorabilia, is set to be auctioned in March starting at a whooping price of £300,000 ($382,150).

The auction will be held online starting on March 18 and ending on March 27.

The napkin also holds the signatures of Messi, Rexach, and Minguella. Expressing its significance, Ian Ehling, Bonhams’ New York’s Head of Books and Manuscripts said, “This is one of the most exciting items I've handled. Yes, it's a paper napkin, but it's the famous napkin that marked the beginning of Lionel Messi's career.”

He added, “It changed Messi's life, the future of FC Barcelona, and significantly contributed to creating some of the most glorious moments in football, for billions of fans worldwide.”

It is to be noted that Messi's signing went on to change the fortunes of Barcelona forever as the Argentine superstar scored 672 goals from his 778 outings, winning 10 Laliga titles, seven Copa del Rey, and four Champions League trophies.