Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2017 Topps Museum Collection UEFA Champions League · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi #1 sells for $88.00 against $12.26 raw: a $75.74 spread, 7.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.99) 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)
- $12.26
- Grade 9.5
- $88.00
- PSA 9
- $79.99
- Gem premium
- 7.2×
- 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 | $88.00 | +$50.74 | +$25.74 | −$74.26 |
| PSA 9 | $79.99 | +$42.73 | +$17.73 | −$82.27 |
Net = sale price − $12.26 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% | $81.99 | +$19.73 |
| 50% | $84.00 | +$21.73 |
| 75% | $86.00 | +$23.74 |
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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Other 2017 Topps Museum Collection UEFA Champions League cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Lionel Messi #1 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi #1 sells for $88.00 against $12.26 raw: a $75.74 spread, 7.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.99) 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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