The tissue recorded an event in December 2000 when Messi was only 13 years old. Barca director at that time, Carles Rexach, used a piece of tissue paper to sign a contract with the young Argentinian player.
This special contract also has the signatures of Josep Minguella, Barca’s transfer advisor, and Horacio Gaggioli, the representative who introduced Messi to the Spanish club.
In December 2000, Rexach arranged a lunch and invited Messi’s father, Jorge. Previously, Messi’s family expressed concern about Barcelona’s lack of response about their son.
During this meeting, Rexach was determined to reach an agreement with Jorge. However, Rexach did not prepare contract documents. The Barca director quickly grabbed the nearest piece of tissue on the table and turned it into one of the most important sports documents in history.
The content of the contract on the napkin clearly states: “”In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, in the presence of Josep Minguella and Horacio Gaggioli, Carles Rexach, technical secretary of FC Barcelona, we commit to responsible for signing the contract despite some mixed opinions about the player Lionel Messi. As long as we respect the financial agreement.”
One month after the special signing, Messi joined Barcelona and the rest is history.
The napkin will be auctioned through British auction house Bonhams next March. Prices start at £300,000 and could sell for £1 million.
In 2021, the tissue that Messi used to wipe away his tears at Barcelona’s farewell press conference was advertised for £900,000.
