THE story of how Lionel Messi came to sign with FC Barcelona is one of football's most remarkable behind-the-scenes tales, involving a young Argentine boy, a frustrated father and a lunch that almost did not happen.
When club directors repeatedly delayed formalising the deal, a Barcelona official took matters into his own hands at a restaurant table in December 2000.
But did one of football's greatest players really get his start with a contract signed on a napkin?
Verdict:
TRUE
Many people did see Messi's potential to be a great player back then, even at such a young age. However, it wasn't as smooth sailing as some might expect.
Messi was only 13 when he got signed, but why did it have to be on a napkin?
The club directors were delaying the signing, which frustrated Messi's father, Jorge.
To fix that, FC Barcelona director Carles Rexach arranged a lunch meeting with Jorge and two agents in December 2000, and did what needed to be done: sign a deal.
Written in Spanish in blue ink, the agreement on the napkin reads: "In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and in the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona's sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon."
A month after the napkin contract, young Messi finally joined the club. After years of training, he made his debut three years later at the age of 16, and the rest is history.
During his 17 years at FC Barcelona, he won 10 Spanish League championships and four Champions League titles. Not only did he become a Barca legend, but also one of the best football players of all time.
In 2024, the napkin ended up getting auctioned off, with a starting price of £300,000. The "standard Spanish waxy napkin," which measures 16.5 x 16.5cm, was laminated and framed for whoever bids the best price.
It ended up being sold for £762,400.
Sources:
2. https://www.bbc.com/sport/
3. https://www.espn.com/soccer/
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/
