Life-changing napkin: How an improvised document transformed Lionel Messi's life

Thomas Edison once famously said, "A single piece of paper can't decide my future." However, for Lionel Messi, a single piece of paper did change the course of his life. While the football GOAT had a glamorous career with Barcelona, his early days in the profession weren't magical. His first contract with the club wasn't signed on any fascinating document but a 'napkin'. This seemingly insignificant piece of paper marked the beginning of one of the most extraordinary careers in football history.

The story behind this signed piece of napkin began when the Argentine player was only 13 years old and was already on trial with Barcelona. His father Jorge Messi was growing frustrated over the prospect of his son's association with the Catalan club. Lack of commitment from the club's end was suspected to be one big reason behind Jorge's anxiousness, per Independent.

To settle the nerves of Messi's family, Carles Rexach, sporting director of the club at the time, made the decisive move of pulling out a 16.5cm by 16.5cm napkin at the Pompeia tennis club in the company of Josep Minguella, transfer adviser to the club, and Horacio Gaggioli, the Argentine agent who brought Messi to their attention. On that napkin, he drafted a formal agreement acknowledging the club's interest in signing the player.

Rexach did his best and wrote an agreement on the napkin in Spanish. Translated in English, it reads, In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and 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 signed napkin was all it took for Messi to remain loyal to Barcelona. Without further ado, Barcelona president Joan Gaspart confirmed the deal, warding off other potential suitors vying for the teenager's signature.

Recently, Bonhams Auction House put the napkin up for auction. With a starting price of £300,000 (nearly $380,000), the historical document sold for an astounding £762,400 ($970,000). The identity of the buyer, however, has not been revealed. In a press release by the auction house, Ian Ehling, head of Fine Books and Manuscripts said, "What a wonderful result for one of the most thrilling items I have ever handled. Yes, it's a paper napkin, but it's the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi's career."

Messi's journey to Camp Nou wasn't always smooth as he had encountered health issues before his move to Spain. Thankfully, with the help of the club's assistance, he overcame his health complications and stepped on the field for Barcelona - a move that not only transformed the club's fortunes but also took him to great heights as a player.

Currently, he is the team's all-time top scorer, with over 600 goals in official competitions. Additionally, his performances in the Blaugrana outfit have earned him prestigious trophies during his time in Spain, making him the star he is today.