Is Lionel Messi [Refractor] #30 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2021 Topps Finest Flashbacks UEFA · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi [Refractor] #30 sells for $65.00 against $4.99 raw: a $60.01 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.50) 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)
- $4.99
- Grade 9.5
- $65.00
- PSA 9
- $59.50
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $65.00 | +$35.01 | +$10.01 | −$89.99 |
| PSA 9 | $59.50 | +$29.51 | +$4.51 | −$95.49 |
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% | $60.88 | +$5.88 |
| 50% | $62.25 | +$7.26 |
| 75% | $63.63 | +$8.63 |
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 [Refractor] #30 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi [Refractor] #30 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Lionel Messi [Refractor] #30 sells for $65.00 against $4.99 raw: a $60.01 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.50) 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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