Lionel Messi’s Unique Start at Barcelona: The Napkin Contract

February 4, 2024

Share to Google Classroom

In an unusual piece of football history, the first-ever contract of football legend Lionel Messi with Barcelona is for sale.

The contract was famously written on a napkin and symbolises the beginning of Messi’s extraordinary journey with Barcelona when he was just 13 years old, back in December 2000.

Messi, who later became Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, joined the club a month after this napkin agreement and enjoyed a stellar 17-year career there. During his time with the Spanish giants, he celebrated 10 Spanish League titles and four Champions League victories before moving to Paris St-Germain in 2021.

The napkin contract is expected to attract bids over $800,000NZD. It was signed during a lunch meeting arranged by Barcelona’s then director Carles Rexach, who met with Messi’s father, Jorge, following Lionel’s impressive trial with the club.

LEARNING OPTIONS

LEAVE A COMMENT

RECALL Questions

THINKING questions

DIGITAL THINKING

LEARNING OPTIONS

LEAVE A COMMENT

RECALL Questions

THINKING questions

DIGITAL THINKING

LATEST NEWS

1

Christchurch urged to Boil Water

February 16, 2026

Christchurch City Council says people in several eastern suburbs must...

1

Dangerous weather for East Coast

February 15, 2026

A deepening low-pressure system is expected to swing back towards...

ODD STUFF NEWS

1

Ancient Romans used Poo as Medicine

February 16, 2026

Scientists in Turkey have discovered that ancient Romans may have...

1

Superfan watches 56 NFL Games

February 11, 2026

A football fan from California has set two world records...

1

Teacher spends 67 Years of Teaching

February 10, 2026

A 90-year-old English teacher from Michigan has made history by...

World & National News

1

Year of the Horse Begins

February 15, 2026

On 17 February 2026, more than 1.5 billion people around...

1

Giant Fatberg troubles Sydney Beaches

February 12, 2026

Sydney’s beaches have been hit by foul-smelling debris balls because...

1

Naming Gore’s Giant Trout

February 12, 2026

Gore’s famous giant brown trout statue in Southland, New Zealand,...

1

A new Gruffalo book is coming

February 12, 2026

For the first time ever, readers will meet the Gruffalo’s...

1

Spain becomes latest country to ban Social Media

February 12, 2026

Spain has announced plans to ban social media for children...

img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px}img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important}@media screen and (max-height: 1024px){.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important}}@media screen and (max-height: 640px){.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important}}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important}