Messi Napkin goes to auction

The napkin upon which 13-year-old Lionel Messi signed his first contract with Barcelona will be auctioned in March, with a starting price of 300,000 pounds ($381,000).

The napkin was signed in December 2000, when Carles Rexach, then Barca's sporting director, agreed with Jorge Messi, Messi's father, and agent Horacio Gaggioli, to recruit the Argentine teenager who would go on to become the club's all-time top scorer.

The pivotal moment in soccer history happened after Rexach invited Messi senior to have lunch following his son's initial trials at the Spanish club.

"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," is written on the napkin from the Pompeia tennis club.

Agencies