Is Lionel Messi #1 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2024 Panini Prizm Copa America · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #1 sells for $123 against $4.99 raw: a $118 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.08) 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)
- $4.99
- PSA 10
- $123
- PSA 9
- $53.08
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $123 | +$92.51 | +$67.51 | −$32.49 |
| PSA 9 | $53.08 | +$23.09 | −$1.91 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $15.00 | −$14.99 | −$39.99 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $4.99 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% | $70.44 | +$15.45 |
| 50% | $87.79 | +$32.80 |
| 75% | $105 | +$50.16 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $159 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $123 | −$36.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $74.00 | −$85.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $74.00 | −$85.00 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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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 $123 against $4.99 raw: a $118 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.08) 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 2024 Panini Prizm Copa America) sells for about $123 versus $4.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 25× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $159, ahead of PSA 10 at $123. 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 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $53.08).
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