Lionel Messi's First Barcelona Contract Signed on a Napkin Up for Auction

• Lionel Messi signed his first professional contract with Barca in December 2000
• The veteran forward went on to spend more than two decades at the Catalan club
• Messi is currently plying his trade in the Major League Soccer with Inter Miami

Football enthusiasts could be afforded the rare chance of adding a Lionel Messi historical artefact to their collections.

Reports claim a napkin that Messi penned his first Barcelona contract could be up for grabs at an auction.

According to Marca, the reknowned napkin is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams between March 18 and 27.

The special piece of cloth, which bears the signatures of Messi, Barca's technical secretary, and Josep Maria Minguella, who was the head of talent at the time, has been carefully preserved for more than 20 years.

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It is understood that the football memorabilia was initially expected to go to Barcelona's museum.

However, that won't be the case, with the priceless napkin set to be auctioned for a price range between £300,000 and £500,000.

When did Messi join Barcelona?

Messi joined Barcelona's academy at a tender age before he penned his first contract on December 14, 2000.

The Argentine played for the Catalan giants for nearly two decades, winning multiple titles with them.

The forward scored an eyewatering 672 goals for the club to establish himself as Barca's all-time leading scorer.

He left the club in the summer of 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer at the time.

The World Cup winner is currently plying his trade with Inter Miami, with whom he linked up on a two-year deal, per Sky News.

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Messi bags first goal of 2024

In other news, Sports Brief reported on Messi finally scoring his first goal of 2024 by converting a penalty in a friendly encounter against Al-Hilal, the record Saudi Pro League champions and current league leader.

Despite securing the 2023 FIFA The Best Men's Player accolade a few weeks earlier, Messi had faced a goal drought in his initial two matches of 2024, experiencing a draw (0-0 vs El Salvador) and a loss (1-0 vs FC Dallas) with Inter Miami.