Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2021 Panini Obsidian · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 brings $165 versus $59.56 raw — a $105 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $59.56
- PSA 10
- $165
- PSA 9
- $25.00
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- 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 | $165 | +$80.44 | +$55.44 | −$44.56 |
| PSA 9 | $25.00 | −$59.56 | −$84.56 | −$185 |
Net = sale price − $59.56 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% | $60.00 | −$49.56 |
| 50% | $95.00 | −$14.56 |
| 75% | $130 | +$20.44 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 60%. 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 | $215 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $165 | −$50.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $99.00 | −$116 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $99.00 | −$116 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Lionel Messi #1 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 brings $165 versus $59.56 raw — a $105 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 (Soccer Cards 2021 Panini Obsidian) sells for about $165 versus $59.56 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.8× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $215, ahead of PSA 10 at $165. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi #1 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 #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi #1 breaks even when it gems about 60% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $25.00).
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