Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2023 Panini Donruss Kaboom · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 sells for $9,500 against $3,897 raw: a $5,603 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,696) 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)
- $3,897
- PSA 10
- $9,500
- PSA 9
- $5,696
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- 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 | $9,500 | +$5,578 | +$5,553 | +$5,453 |
| PSA 9 | $5,696 | +$1,775 | +$1,750 | +$1,650 |
| PSA 8 | $2,676 | −$1,246 | −$1,271 | −$1,371 |
Net = sale price − $3,897 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% | $6,647 | +$2,700 |
| 50% | $7,598 | +$3,651 |
| 75% | $8,549 | +$4,602 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $12,350 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $9,500 | −$2,850 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $5,700 | −$6,650 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $5,700 | −$6,650 | 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 sells for $9,500 against $3,897 raw: a $5,603 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,696) 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 #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 (Soccer Cards 2023 Panini Donruss Kaboom) sells for about $9,500 versus $3,897 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.4× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $12,350, ahead of PSA 10 at $9,500. 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.
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