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Writing about Lionel Messi is one thing of an absurdist train.
He’s probably the most revered and revered participant on the earth’s hottest sport.
His is an ungodly mixture of imaginative and prescient and situational consciousness, obscene ball management whereas dribbling, inch-perfect passing, deadly ending means and bodily toughness. Messi is the platonic supreme of a famous person. (Full disclosure: your creator is an FC Barcelona fan, and resides in Barcelona).
At membership stage, for FC Barcelona, he’d finished actually all there may be to do: ten Spanish league titles, six “Copa del Rey” (a home cup competitors) wins, and 4 European Champions League crowns. Individually, he’s received the Ballon d’Or, awarded yearly to the very best participant in Europe (and, thus, the world), an unprecedented six instances, together with 4 straight from 2009 to 2012, and 6 instances he’s received the Golden Shoe, as the highest aim scorer throughout all of Europe’s high leagues.
As I’m scripting this, he’s taken half in 761 video games for Barcelona, and scored a ridiculous 654 targets. His 71 targets are probably the most ever for the Argentine nationwide staff. In 2012, he shattered the file for many targets in calendar, for each membership and nation, with an astounding 91. He’s scored 54 profession hat methods…
It goes on, and on, and on. There’s a cottage trade on the web construct across the absurdity of his achievements.
It’s not merely that he’s nice, although. There’s a magic in watching him play that’s has not often been seen earlier than (and by no means to this extent), has to not be replicated on this period, and is unlikely to been once more. Not like this.
That Messi is barely about 5’6” and 160 kilos concurrently makes him extra – and utterly not – relatable. He doesn’t appear to be a superhero. He look utterly mortal. Of our world. Unimpressive, even.
He’s none of these issues, after all. Quite, he’s been the world’s (just about) undisputed greatest participant for a few dozen years, and counting, and is the game’s consensus greatest-ever participant.
As not solely the world’s most well-known and in style athlete, however one among its well-known and in style people, it’s unsurprising that Lionel Messi playing cards have lengthy been in-demand, and commanded a premium to these of anybody within the sport, previous or current. By the center of the last decade, because of elevated curiosity and data within the interest epicenter of the USA, soccer playing cards – led by these that includes Messi – had gained a relatively sturdy foothold.
Sports activities playing cards and collectibles in Europe, significantly exterior of England, previous to 2010 had been largely native and probably not “mainstream”. Nonetheless, because the interest has boomed, so too have soccer playing cards. These days, a really world fan base is flocking to what was a distinct segment nook of the interest. Messi is the clear-cut largest identify in soccer playing cards, although Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Diego Maradona and Pelé all additionally command big curiosity.
In step with the broader development within the interest, the grading of Messi’s playing cards has spiked over the previous couple of years. Previous to the latest increase available in the market, quite a few points from rookie season, 2004-05 had been moderately in style grading candidates, although even these populations paled compared to these of rookie playing cards of fellow unimpeachable icons Jordan, Kobe and LeBron.
Messi’s rookie playing cards are from his debut season of 2004-05. Most might be discovered with relative ease, however – more and more over the previous yr – and significantly within the month previous to this text – will not be straightforward on the pockets, with uncommon high-grade variations carrying huge value tags.
2004-05 Panini Este Sticker Lionel Messi
Whole Graded: 89
PSA 10 – pop: 10; 1 sale up to now 6 months – June 2020, for $19,850
PSA 9 – pop: 30; 8 gross sales up to now 6 months; most up-to-date February 10 ($29,999), and February 15 ($22,995)
PSA 8 – pop: 22; 6 gross sales up to now 6 months: $3,448 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 116 – BGS 10: 4; BGS 9.5: 34; BGS 9: 24; BGS 8.5: 28; BGS 8: 12
Don’t let the comparatively giant variety of high-grade BGS graded variations idiot you – this is likely one of the two rarest Messi rookies.
The primary of Leo’s Panini playing cards, an in any other case unassuming horizontally laid, non-numbered, blank-back sticker that, within the second, within the palms of a kid, resembles – maintain on to your hats – a sticker, to be peeled and caught someplace…
A PSA 10 final got here to market in June 2020, and bought for just below $20,000. Within the two weeks previous to the writing of this text, a pair of PSA 9s bought for roughly $30,000 and $23,000. PSA 8s have leapt from $2,000-$3,000 in January 2021, to about $6,000. There’s a BGS 9.5 instance on eBay right now for a giant value.
2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks #BIS 71
Whole Graded: 226
PSA 10 – pop: 20; 1 sale up to now 6 months – September 2020, for $116,988 (Previous 3 gross sales: April 2020, for $21,500; March 2019, for $13,900; and October 2017, for $8,610)
PSA 9 – pop: 34; 5 gross sales up to now 6 months: $22,040 common (Yr in the past: $4,309)
PSA 8 – pop: 50; 7 gross sales up to now 6 months: $9,214 common (Yr in the past: $1,077)
PSA 7 – pop: 31; No gross sales up to now 6 months: Final 2 gross sales, in July 2020, had been for $3,750 every
Whole Graded by BGS: 360
BGS 9.5: 70; BGS 9: 109; BGS 8.5: 93; BGS 8: 36
The holy grail of soccer playing cards.
Although not as uncommon because the Panini Este sticker, this Mega Cracks Messi rookie is probably the most priceless Messi rookie. PSA 10s (pop: 20) come to market roughly annually. In October 2017, one bought for $8,600. In March 2019, one bought for $13,900. A month later, $21,900. The latest, in September, was for an incredible $116,988. PSA 9s, in the meantime, are actually within the $30,000 vary, with the decrease grades, all the way down to PSA 6, now approaching – and exceeding – $10,000.
A couple of can usually be found on eBay at various grade ranges.
2004-05 Mundi Cromo Sport Las Fichas de la Liga #617
Whole Graded by PSA: 347
PSA 10 – pop: 46; 1 sale up to now 6 months – August 2020, for $5,655
PSA 9 – pop: 133; 10 gross sales up to now 6 months: $2,467 common
PSA 8 – pop: 87; 15 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,915 common
PSA 7 – pop: 40; 7 gross sales up to now 6 months: $534 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 153 – BGS 10: 1; BGS 9.5: 13; BGS 9: 48; BGS 8.5: 53; BGS 8: 17
A part of the in depth Spanish Mundi Cromo set that covers Spain’s home league, that is probably the most mainstream, and sometimes least pricy of Messi’s rookie playing cards. For quite a few years, uncooked copies in good situation could possibly be had for effectively below $100. Unsurprisingly, costs have skyrocketed over the previous yr and, together with all different Messi rookie playing cards, have hit the afterburners. Because of the challenges of discovering completely centered copies, ultra-high-grade variations command one thing of an added premium.
A PSA 10 final bought in August 2020, for $5,655. Within the months since, sale of PSA 9s have gone from about $2,500, to $5,500, with PSA 8s and 7s additionally cracking 4 figures. The excellent news is they are readily available.
2004-05 Mundi Cromo Prime Liga #195 (w/ Borja Fernandez, Daniel Rodriguez and Francisco Llompart)
Whole Graded: 35
PSA 10 – pop: 1; No recorded gross sales
PSA 9 – pop: 10; 1 recorded sale – January 27, 2021, for $4,510
PSA 8 – pop: 11; 1 recorded sale – July 28, 2020, for $1,009
Foil parallel
Whole Graded: 347
PSA 10 – pop: 1; 1 recorded sale – January 2018, for $1,375
PSA 9 – pop: 7; 1 sale up to now 6 months – October 23, 2020, for $8,500
PSA 8 – pop: 22; 3 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,012 common
No BGS-graded variations of both card
From a second 2004-05 Mundi Cromo set, a quad-player rookie card.
In a single man’s opinion, that is the least fascinating Messi rookie. Between the unattractive photograph of Messi, and the truth that not one of the different three prospects on the cardboard went on to stardom, purely kind a collector’s perspective, there’s not a lot to sink your tooth into right here.
That being stated, that is the opposite of the ultra-rare Messi rookie. Per PSA, solely eight graded variations of this card have bought up to now three years, the 2 most up-to-date an 8.5 which fetched $3,500 in October 2020, and a PSA 9 which bought for $4,500 in late January.
Unusually, graded variations of the even rarer foil model have popped up extra steadily, although just one PSA has surfaced, and it bought for $8,500 in October 2020. In the meantime, decrease grades (6-8) have fetched low-four-figure sums. A couple of are usually on the market at any given time.
The Mega Cracks Trio
Lastly, there may be the Barca Campeón / Campió version product. The rationale for the 2 totally different names is as a result of this set was launched with each a Spanish model (Campeón) and a Catalan model (Campió). The distinction might be distinguished by the crest within the higher entrance nook of the playing cards–and maybe extra clearly by the spelling of the headline working up the suitable facet of the entrance (“Campeones vs. Campions”).
In all, the set options three totally different Messi playing cards: Campeones/Campions (#35; head shot), Accion/Accio (#62; the facet view), and Autografo/Autograf (#89), the final of which truly makes use of the identical photograph from the Panini Mega Cracks card above.
2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks Barca (#35) (see pictures above)
Spanish: Whole Graded: 243
PSA 10 – pop: 46; 5 gross sales up to now 6 months – $20,620
PSA 9 – pop: 96; 9 gross sales up to now 6 months: $3,562 common
PSA 8 – pop: 57; 10 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,303 common
PSA 7 – pop: 28; 5 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,359 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 117 – BGS 9.5: 19; BGS 9: 51; BGS 8.5: 31; BGS 8: 9
Catalan: Whole Graded: 120
PSA 10 – pop: 15; 3 gross sales recorded: June 25, 2018, for $1,202; June 21, 2018, for $750; and Might 22, 2018, for $2,850 – no information obtainable for gross sales prior or since
PSA 9 – pop: 24; 5 gross sales up to now 6 months: $2,895 common
PSA 8 – pop: 19; 9 gross sales up to now 6 months: $2,877 common
PSA 7 – pop: 28; 7 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,199 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 5 – BGS 8.5: 3; BGS 8: 1; BGS 7.5: 1
See each variations on the market and public sale here.
2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks Barca (#62)
Spanish: Whole Graded: 236
PSA 10 – pop: 76; 13 gross sales up to now 6 months – $11,547
PSA 9 – pop: 77; 14 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,588 common
PSA 8 – pop: 62; 12 gross sales up to now 6 months: $747 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 103 – BGS10: 1; BGS 9.5: 33; BGS 9: 43; BGS 8.5: 19
Catalan: Whole Graded: 77
PSA 10 – pop: 3; 1 recorded sale: November 2019, for $2,550
PSA 9 – pop: 11; No gross sales up to now 6 months; Final recorded sale was in April 2020, for $1,200; previous 3 gross sales, all in March 2020, for between $227 and $275
PSA 8 – pop: 26; 4 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,319 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 3 – BGS 9.5: 1; BGS 9: 1; BGS 8.5: 1
See them on the market and public sale here.
2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks Barca (#89)
Spanish: Whole Graded: 499
PSA 10 – pop: 143; 13 gross sales up to now 6 months – $8,314
PSA 9 – pop: 114; 13 gross sales up to now 6 months: $2,388 common
PSA 8 – pop: 83; 6 gross sales up to now 6 months: $1,126 common
Whole Graded by BGS: 228 – BGS 10: 1; BGS 9.5: 106; BGS 9: 59; BGS 8.5: 33; BGS 8: 13
Catalan: Whole Graded: 192
PSA 10 – pop: 38; No gross sales up to now 6 months; 2 gross sales in July 2020, for $3,900-$4,000
PSA 9 – pop: 37; 13 gross sales up to now 6 months: $4,515 common
PSA 8 – pop: 37; 4 gross sales up to now 6 months: $712 common; Solely different recorded sale was in March 2020, for $62
Whole Graded by BGS: 7 – BGS 9.5: 2; BGS 9: 1; BGS 8.5: 2; BGS 8: 2
Examine the present marketplace for these autographed Messi rookie playing cards here.
Amid the latest explosion within the costs of Messi rookies, your complete batch of Mega Cracks playing cards appears to have gained momentum, with all having a minimum of doubled (if no more) up to now month. Among the many extra widespread Spanish variations (graded variations of the Catalan playing cards are relatively tougher to return by), 3 PSA 10 “Campeones” bought between January 17 and February 17, 2021, for $9,000, $20,000 and… $56,000!
In the meantime, a surprising eight PSA 10s variations of #62 bought up to now month, beginning at $9,000 on January 27, and climbing regularly to $30,000 on February 10.
The market has seen an increase within the “Autografo” Messis, with 5 PSA 8s promoting for between $613 (January 27) and $3,500 (February 6), 5 PSAs going for between $2,500 and $10,600 (February 19) and seven PSA 10s promoting for between $5,500 (January 27) and $27,500 (February 18).
In fact, one other query stays: In a rustic that’s not traditionally collectibles centered, and has by no means been awash in spare funds for high-dollar sports activities playing cards, not to mention skilled grading, simply what number of extra of this stuff (or, for that matter, his now-hot 2005-06 cards) have survived practically nearly many years in prime situation?
You possibly can take a look at the present checklist of most watched Messi card auctions by way of the reside checklist under and see an inventory of all most watched soccer card auctions on eBay here.
About Emile Avanessian
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