Is Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2023 Topps Chrome MLS Big City Strikers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 sells for $163 against $56.99 raw: a $106 spread, 2.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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)
- $56.99
- PSA 10
- $163
- PSA 9
- $100
- Gem premium
- 2.9×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $163 | +$80.51 | +$55.51 | −$44.49 |
| PSA 9 | $100 | +$18.01 | −$6.99 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $56.99 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% | $116 | +$8.63 |
| 50% | $131 | +$24.26 |
| 75% | $147 | +$39.88 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGC 10 | $375 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $211 | −$164 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $163 | −$213 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $98.00 | −$277 | 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.
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Grading Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 sells for $163 against $56.99 raw: a $106 spread, 2.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 (Soccer Cards 2023 Topps Chrome MLS Big City Strikers) sells for about $163 versus $56.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.9× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7?
By resale value, SGC 10 leads at $375, ahead of BGS 10 at $211. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 need for a SGC 10?
SGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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 [Aqua] #BCS-7 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi [Aqua] #BCS-7 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $100).
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