Is Lionel Messi [Gold Lava] #GL-5 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2023 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Golazo · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi [Gold Lava] #GL-5 sells for $107 against $30.99 raw: a $76.01 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($97.50) 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)
- $30.99
- Grade 9.5
- $107
- PSA 9
- $97.50
- Gem premium
- 3.5×
- 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 | $107 | +$51.01 | +$26.01 | −$73.99 |
| PSA 9 | $97.50 | +$41.51 | +$16.51 | −$83.49 |
Net = sale price − $30.99 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% | $99.88 | +$18.89 |
| 50% | $102 | +$21.26 |
| 75% | $105 | +$23.64 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Lionel Messi [Gold Lava] #GL-5 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi [Gold Lava] #GL-5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi [Gold Lava] #GL-5 sells for $107 against $30.99 raw: a $76.01 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($97.50) 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.
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