![Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 (Soccer Cards 2017 Panini Select) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QjMAAeSwUr5qWRfA/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2017 Panini Select · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 brings $344 versus $237 raw — a $107 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($158) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $237
- PSA 10
- $344
- PSA 9
- $158
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- 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 | $344 | +$81.71 | +$56.71 | −$43.29 |
| PSA 9 | $158 | −$105 | −$130 | −$230 |
Net = sale price − $237 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% | $204 | −$83.28 |
| 50% | $251 | −$36.62 |
| 75% | $297 | +$10.05 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 70%. 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 | $447 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $344 | −$103 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $206 | −$241 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $206 | −$241 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2017 Panini Select cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Lionel Messi [Silver] #255 2017 Panini Select card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IkUAAeSwNUBqMiLu/s-l500.jpg)
![Lionel Messi [White] #255 2017 Panini Select card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Z3EAAeSwTy5qb3oy/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 brings $344 versus $237 raw — a $107 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($158) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 (Soccer Cards 2017 Panini Select) sells for about $344 versus $237 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.4× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $447, ahead of PSA 10 at $344. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 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 [Checkerboard] #255 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi [Checkerboard] #255 breaks even when it gems about 70% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $158).
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