Is Lionel Messi #35 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2018 Panini Immaculate · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi #35 sells for $114 against $60.60 raw: a $53.40 spread, 1.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($104) 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)
- $60.60
- Grade 9.5
- $114
- PSA 9
- $104
- Gem premium
- 1.9×
- 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 | $114 | +$28.40 | +$3.40 | −$96.60 |
| PSA 9 | $104 | +$18.41 | −$6.59 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $60.60 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% | $107 | −$4.09 |
| 50% | $109 | −$1.60 |
| 75% | $112 | +$0.90 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 66%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2018 Panini Immaculate cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Lionel Messi #35 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #35 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi #35 sells for $114 against $60.60 raw: a $53.40 spread, 1.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($104) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Lionel Messi #35 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi #35 breaks even when it gems about 66% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $104).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your soccer card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
