Lionel Messi’s First Barcelona Contract On Napkin Set To Be Auctioned

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Lionel Messi’s fans around the world know of the story of how he came to Barcelona. His signature was secured on a napkin. That piece of napkin holds Messi and Barcelona's journey to this day and history.

Reports from Marca say that the napkin will be auctioned online by the renowned British auction house Bonhams in late March. The auctioneers have put the starting price of the piece at £300,000.

Horacio Goggioli is the agent who helped Lionel Messi make his move from Argentina to Barcelona at the age of 13 years. He had possession of the napkin for all these years. He once wanted to donate the napkin to the FC Barcelona museum.

However, it seems that he wants to auction it now. The auction will be held online starting on March 18 and ending on March 27. The selling price will begin at £300,000 and could even fetch up to £500,000.

Goggioli helped Lionel Messi come to Barcelona for a trial. After watching Messi play, Josep Maria Minguella, Barcelona's talent scout, wanted to secure Messi's signature as soon as possible. Hence, in the absence of a proper contract, Minguella made one up on a napkin.

The writing on the napkin says “In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Recach, 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.”

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.”