Is Nuno Mendes [Aqua Wave Refractor] #22 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2021 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Nuno Mendes [Aqua Wave Refractor] #22 sell for $14.00, only $10.26 above the $3.74 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.33) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.74
- Grade 9.5
- $14.00
- PSA 9
- $12.33
- Gem premium
- 3.7×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $14.00 | −$14.74 | −$39.74 | −$140 |
| PSA 9 | $12.33 | −$16.41 | −$41.41 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $3.74 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% | $12.75 | −$40.99 |
| 50% | $13.16 | −$40.58 |
| 75% | $13.58 | −$40.16 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Nuno Mendes [Aqua Wave Refractor] #22 — FAQ
Is Nuno Mendes [Aqua Wave Refractor] #22 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Nuno Mendes [Aqua Wave Refractor] #22 sell for $14.00, only $10.26 above the $3.74 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.33) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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