Is Lionel Messi #128 worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 8.0× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #128 sells for $59.03 against $7.38 raw: a $51.65 spread, 8.0× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.69) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $7.38
- PSA 10
- $59.03
- PSA 9
- $18.69
- Gem premium
- 8.0×
- 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 | $59.03 | +$26.65 | +$1.65 | −$98.35 |
| PSA 9 | $18.69 | −$13.69 | −$38.69 | −$139 |
| PSA 8 | $14.17 | −$18.21 | −$43.21 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $7.38 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% | $28.78 | −$28.60 |
| 50% | $38.86 | −$18.52 |
| 75% | $48.95 | −$8.44 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 96%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $59.03 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $52.50 | −$6.53 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $49.99 | −$9.04 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| SGC 10 | $35.45 | −$23.58 | 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 #128 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #128 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #128 sells for $59.03 against $7.38 raw: a $51.65 spread, 8.0× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.69) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Lionel Messi #128 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #128 (Soccer Cards 2024 Topps Now MLS) sells for about $59.03 versus $7.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.0× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #128?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $59.03, ahead of CGC 10 at $52.50. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi #128 need for a PSA 10?
PSA 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 #128 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi #128 breaks even when it gems about 96% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $18.69).
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