Lionel Messi's Rookie Card Sells for Record $1.5m in Private Sale

A rookie card of Lionel Messi from his Barcelona days has been sold for a record-breaking $1.5 million through the Fanatics Collect private sale network. The Panini Mega Cracks card, graded a perfect 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator, surpassed the previous record for a soccer card sale.

This sale marks a significant milestone in the sports card collecting world, exceeding the amount paid for a Pele card in 1958. The private sale network, established in late 2023, facilitated the transaction, showcasing the growing interest in high-value sports memorabilia among collectors.