Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 sells for $10,573 against $2,439 raw: a $8,135 spread, 4.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,647) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2,439
- PSA 10
- $10,573
- PSA 9
- $3,647
- Gem premium
- 4.3×
- As of
- Nov 1, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $10,573 | +$8,110 | +$8,085 | +$7,985 |
| PSA 9 | $3,647 | +$1,183 | +$1,158 | +$1,058 |
| PSA 8 | $3,049 | +$585 | +$560 | +$460 |
Net = sale price − $2,439 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $5,379 | +$2,890 |
| 50% | $7,110 | +$4,622 |
| 75% | $8,842 | +$6,353 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $13,908 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $10,573 | −$3,335 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $6,344 | −$7,564 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $4,229 | −$9,679 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Lionel Messi #1 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 sells for $10,573 against $2,439 raw: a $8,135 spread, 4.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,647) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 (Soccer Cards 2025 Panini Donruss Road to FIFA Kaboom) sells for about $10,573 versus $2,439 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.3× premium as of Nov 1, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $13,908, ahead of PSA 10 at $10,573. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi #1 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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