![Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 (Soccer Cards 2018 Panini World Cup Stickers) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6VMAAeSw-71qvWUA/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2018 Panini World Cup Stickers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 sells for $168 against $11.01 raw: a $157 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.93) 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)
- $11.01
- PSA 10
- $168
- PSA 9
- $42.93
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $168 | +$132 | +$107 | +$6.99 |
| PSA 9 | $42.93 | +$6.92 | −$18.08 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $22.72 | −$13.29 | −$38.29 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $11.01 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% | $74.20 | +$13.19 |
| 50% | $105 | +$44.45 |
| 75% | $137 | +$75.72 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 14%. 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 | $218 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $168 | −$50.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $101 | −$117 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $101 | −$117 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 sells for $168 against $11.01 raw: a $157 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.93) 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 [Black Back] #288 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 (Soccer Cards 2018 Panini World Cup Stickers) sells for about $168 versus $11.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $218, ahead of PSA 10 at $168. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 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 [Black Back] #288 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi [Black Back] #288 breaks even when it gems about 14% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $42.93).
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