Is Lionel Messi #71 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi #71 sells for $57,654 against $5,000 raw: a $52,654 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52,413) 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)
- $5,000
- Grade 9.5
- $57,654
- PSA 9
- $52,413
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $57,654 | +$52,629 | +$52,604 | +$52,504 |
| PSA 9 | $52,413 | +$47,388 | +$47,363 | +$47,263 |
| PSA 8 | $35,000 | +$29,975 | +$29,950 | +$29,850 |
Net = sale price − $5,000 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% | $53,723 | +$48,673 |
| 50% | $55,034 | +$49,984 |
| 75% | $56,344 | +$51,294 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Lionel Messi #71 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #71 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi #71 sells for $57,654 against $5,000 raw: a $52,654 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52,413) 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.
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