Lionel Messi's First Contract With Barcelona Signed On Napkin To Be Auctioned

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Argentina star forward Lionel Messi's record-breaking career with Barcelona started with a contract that was signed on a napkin, which is now set to be up for auction with a starting price of 300,000 pounds (USD 379,000).

British auction house Bonhams will be selling the famous napkin in an online auction from March 18-27 on behalf of Horacio Gaggioli, an agent from Messi's home country of Argentina who was part of the deal.

The napkin, bearing the date December 14, 2000, bears the signatures of Gaggioli, another agent, Josep Maria Minguella and Barcelona's then-sporting director, Carles Rexach, who met at a tennis club in Barcelona.

The napkin on which the contract was signed, outlines an agreement in principle to sign Messi and was intended to reassure his father, Jorge Messi, that the deal would go through. A more formal and detailed contract with the club followed soon after.

"This is one of the most thrilling items I have ever handled. Yes, it's a paper napkin, but it's the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi's career," Ian Ehling, the head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York, said in a statement.

"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 around the globe."

Messi would then go on to spend 21 years at the La Liga club, where he won several titles including four UEFA Champions League trophies before he moved to France with PSG.

During his time in France, Messi continued winning titles and added his seventh Ballon d'Or. The superstar forward, who helped Argentina to their third FIFA World Cup, ending a 36-year wait, also landed his eighth Ballon d'Or following his move to the USA.

Messi currently plays for the David Beckham-owned side Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS), and recently was involved in a friendly match against his nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo's team Al Nassr. The duo, however, did not share the field during the match.