Lionel Messi's famous napkin contract, which launched his career at Barcelona, has opened this week in London.
As per ESPN, the napkin, on which Messi's unofficial first-ever contract with the club was penned, has a guide price ranging from £300,000 to £500,000 ($374,700 to $624,500).
The bidding for the world-famous napkin began on Wednesday after Barcelona reportedly refused to display the contract napkin at the club’s museum.
However, bidding for this iconic item has already reached £220,000 and will remain open until May 17 at the British auction house Bonhams.
Argentine legend Lionel Messi’s famous napkin contract with FC Barcelona is considered one of the most unique and historic pieces of soccer history.
Moreover, the napkin, signed in 2000 by Barcelona's former sporting director Carles Rexach and agent Horacio Gaggioli, contained a commitment to bring Lionel Messi onto the team, who was 13 years old at the time.
While, the contract, signed at a tennis club in Barcelona in December 2000, was a result of negotiations initiated by Jorge Messi, Lionel's father, who threatened to take his son back to Argentina.
Upon being asked, "Why a napkin?" Rexach told , "Because it was the only thing I had available at hand. I saw the only way to relax Jorge was signing something, giving him some proof, so I asked for a napkin from the waiter."
The written content 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."
Additionally, during his more than two decades at Barcelona, Messi won 10 LaLiga titles, seven Copas del Rey, and four Champions League trophies.
Individually, he earned eight Ballon d'Or awards and was named The Best FIFA Men's Player three times.
Recently, Messi made history by becoming the first player to reach 1200 goal contributions in official matches.
