The napkin that had Leo Messi’s original Barcelona contract was up for auction at Bonhams, for $950,000.
The napkin dates to December 2000, when Messi was only thirteen years old, and it represents the signing of a contract between Messi and Barcelona.
Carles Rexach, the Blaugrana’s sporting director at the time, signed it with a blue pen. This artwork, which was once owned by Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli, was put up for auction by Bonhams in a nine-day online auction following recent exhibitions in Paris, New York, and London.
Messi, who went on to become one of the all-time greats, and Barcelona both had their fortunes turned around by the 2000 contract.