Is Lionel Messi [Red] #R-2 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2022 Topps Merlin Chrome UEFA Club Competitions Renaissance · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Lionel Messi [Red] #R-2 sell for $484, only $0.00 above the $845 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($440) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $845
- Grade 9.5
- $484
- PSA 9
- $440
- Gem premium
- 0.6×
- 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 | $484 | −$386 | −$411 | −$511 |
| PSA 9 | $440 | −$430 | −$455 | −$555 |
Net = sale price − $845 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% | $451 | −$444 |
| 50% | $462 | −$433 |
| 75% | $473 | −$422 |
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 Lionel Messi [Red] #R-2 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi [Red] #R-2 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Lionel Messi [Red] #R-2 sell for $484, only $0.00 above the $845 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($440) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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