One of the most pivotal documents in the history of football (soccer) is the famous and unique napkin on which the first promise of a contract was written to secure 13-year-old Lionel Messi for FC Barcelona. It changed the fortunes of both the club and Messi himself, who went on to become one of the greatest players of all time. The original napkin in blue ink is being offered at Bonhams on behalf of Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli in an online auction running from March 18 to March 27. The starting price is £300,000 ($380,000 US).
Carles Rexach, Barcelona’s Sporting Director at the time, took the unconventional step of immortalizing the commitment on the napkin with a blue ballpoint pen. The statement, signed on December 14, 2000, reads:
“En Barcelona, a 14 de diciembre del 2000 y en presencia de los Sres. Minguella y Horacio, Carles Rexach, secretario técnico del FC Barcelona, se compromete bajo su responsabilidad y a pesar de algunas opiniones en contra a fichar al jugador Lionel Messi siempre y cuando nos mantengamos en las cantidades acordadas”
“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.”
The napkin, measuring a modest 16.5 x 16.5cm, bears the signatures of Carles Rexach, Josep Minguella, and Horacio Gaggioli, the key figures involved in securing Messi’s early contract. Messi’s journey to Barcelona was not without obstacles, including concerns about his height and the substantial investment in a 13-year-old player. Born in 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, Messi’s prodigious talents were first noticed by FC Barcelona scouts when he was just 12 years old, playing for his local club, Newell’s Old Boys.
Negotiations faced delays, with some members of the club questioning the value of investing in a player under five feet tall. Frustrated by the lack of commitment, Messi’s father, Jorge, pressed for a decision. On December 14, 2000, over lunch at the Pompeia tennis club, Rexach seized the moment, pulling out a paper napkin and penning the crucial commitment. That night, FC Barcelona’s President, Joan Gaspart, confirmed the agreement on more substantial paper, marking the beginning of Messi’s illustrious career with the club.
With Lionel Messi donning the iconic Number 10 jersey, FC Barcelona experienced unparalleled success from 2008 to 2012, securing 14 trophies under the management of Pep Guardiola and earning a place among the greatest teams in history. Messi’s individual achievements include eight Ballon d’Or awards and becoming Barcelona’s all-time top scorer.
Ian Ehling, Head of Fine Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams New York, expressed excitement about the auction, stating, “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. 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.”
Football enthusiasts and collectors alike eagerly await the outcome of this historic auction, recognizing the significance of this remarkable artifact in the annals of football history.
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