Is Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 5.4× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 sells for $139 against $25.75 raw: a $113 spread, 5.4× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($47.00) 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)
- $25.75
- PSA 10
- $139
- PSA 9
- $47.00
- Gem premium
- 5.4×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $139 | +$87.87 | +$62.87 | −$37.13 |
| PSA 9 | $47.00 | −$3.75 | −$28.75 | −$129 |
| PSA 8 | $43.00 | −$7.75 | −$32.75 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $25.75 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% | $69.91 | −$5.84 |
| 50% | $92.81 | +$17.06 |
| 75% | $116 | +$39.97 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 31%. 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 | $180 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $139 | −$41.38 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $83.00 | −$97.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $40.49 | −$140 | 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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Other 2024 Topps Now MLS cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan [Black] #129 2024 Topps Now MLS card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/03IAAeSwQq5oWbRI/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 — FAQ
Is Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 sells for $139 against $25.75 raw: a $113 spread, 5.4× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($47.00) 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 / Cavan Sullivan #129 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 (Soccer Cards 2024 Topps Now MLS) sells for about $139 versus $25.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.4× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $180, ahead of PSA 10 at $139. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 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 / Cavan Sullivan #129 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lionel Messi / Cavan Sullivan #129 breaks even when it gems about 31% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $47.00).
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