Is Lionel Messi #50 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2016 Topps UEFA Champions League Showcase · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #50 sells for $245 against $6.75 raw: a $238 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.00) 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)
- $6.75
- PSA 10
- $245
- PSA 9
- $55.00
- Gem premium
- 36×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $245 | +$213 | +$188 | +$88.25 |
| PSA 9 | $55.00 | +$23.25 | −$1.75 | −$102 |
Net = sale price − $6.75 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% | $103 | +$45.75 |
| 50% | $150 | +$93.25 |
| 75% | $198 | +$141 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $319 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $245 | −$74.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $147 | −$172 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $147 | −$172 | 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 #50 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #50 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #50 sells for $245 against $6.75 raw: a $238 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.00) 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 #50 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #50 (Soccer Cards 2016 Topps UEFA Champions League Showcase) sells for about $245 versus $6.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 36× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #50?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $319, ahead of PSA 10 at $245. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi #50 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.
What gem rate makes grading Lionel Messi #50 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi #50 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $55.00).
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