According to Reuters, the napkin that Barcelona used to sign the first memorandum of understanding with Messi has just been successfully auctioned by a company for $969,000 (equivalent to VND24.6 billion). Bonhams New York Company is the lucky unit hosting a special memorabilia auction.

In December 2000, Carles Rexach, former Barcelona sporting director, and transfer advisor Josep Minguella negotiated with Messi’s father and agent.

At that time, Messi was only 13 years old and was trying out for the Spanish national team. So that Messi felt confident in his contributions and quickly reached an agreement, a contract was drawn up on a napkin and signed by the parties involved.

Messi’s contract written on a napkin.

“ Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin at the beginning of Lionel Messi’s career,” said Ian Ehling, director of books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York. It changed Messi’s life, the future of Barcelona and brought the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the world .

In August 2021, Barcelona published a farewell notice for Messi. The Camp Nou team cannot solve the economic problem to comply with the regulations of the La Liga salary fund. If Barcelona signs Messi, they will not be able to register the Argentine superstar or any new signings. An announcement of less than 200 words, but like a painful stab in the hearts of Catalan football fans.

In 17 years playing for Barça, Messi played 778 games, scored 672 goals and gave 305 assists. He won 35 titles, including 10 LaLiga championships, 4 Champions League titles, 11 Spanish Super Cups and European Super Cups.

The history of Barça was born before Messi appeared, but with the Argentine superstar the chronicle of this team has hundreds of additional pages of gold.

Through Messi’s wings, Barça rose to the top of the world during a period of great prosperity (2009-2011), achieving a historic sixth harvest. With Messi’s excellence, Barça was crowned king of Europe three times. In the Messi era, only Real Madrid is the Champions League champion team comparable to Barça.