Is Lionel Messi #9 worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 6.4× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #9 sells for $64.24 against $10.11 raw: a $54.13 spread, 6.4× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.49) 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)
- $10.11
- PSA 10
- $64.24
- PSA 9
- $17.49
- Gem premium
- 6.4×
- 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 | $64.24 | +$29.13 | +$4.13 | −$95.87 |
| PSA 9 | $17.49 | −$17.62 | −$42.62 | −$143 |
| PSA 8 | $8.47 | −$26.64 | −$51.64 | −$152 |
Net = sale price − $10.11 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% | $29.18 | −$30.93 |
| 50% | $40.86 | −$19.25 |
| 75% | $52.55 | −$7.56 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 91%. 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 | $70.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $64.24 | −$5.76 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $31.00 | −$39.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $8.49 | −$61.51 | 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 #9 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #9 sells for $64.24 against $10.11 raw: a $54.13 spread, 6.4× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.49) 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 #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi #9 (Soccer Cards 2024 Topps Now MLS) sells for about $64.24 versus $10.11 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.4× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $70.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $64.24. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi #9 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 #9 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi #9 breaks even when it gems about 91% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $17.49).
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