In the year 2000, a small boy from Rosario, Argentina, carrying a giant dream and a rare medical condition, stepped off a plane in Barcelona. His name was Lionel Andrés Messi, and he was just 13 years old.
Messi was already a phenomenon in local youth leagues in Argentina. His skill, dribbling, and vision were far beyond his years. But he was also facing a major obstacle—Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)—a condition that stunted his growth and required costly medical treatment. His family couldn’t afford the therapy, and no Argentine club was willing to commit to both his talent and his treatment.
Desperate and hopeful, the Messi family sought an opportunity in Spain. They arranged a trial with FC Barcelona, thanks in part to a recommendation from a former player and agent. It took only minutes for the Barcelona scouts to be convinced. Watching the small boy weave through defenders with ease, they saw something special—something rare. But even with the obvious talent, doubts lingered within the club’s board.
A Turning Point Meeting
Weeks passed after the trial with no contract in sight. The Messi family grew frustrated and considered returning to Argentina. Sensing the imminent loss of a generational talent, Barcelona’s sporting director Carles Rexach called an urgent meeting at the Pompeia tennis club in Barcelona on December 14, 2000.
But there was a problem: no formal documents had been prepared. Rexach, determined not to let Messi slip through the club’s fingers, improvised.
In a moment that has since become the stuff of legend, he reached for the nearest piece of paper—a napkin—and scribbled a commitment:
“In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and in the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio (Messi’s father), Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona’s sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and despite some opinions against it, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon.”
The napkin was signed. It was not legally binding, but it was a promise—a symbolic gesture that showed FC Barcelona’s belief in the boy’s future.
A Life-Changing Decision
Following the napkin agreement, Barcelona moved quickly to formalize the deal. Messi was enrolled in La Masia, Barcelona’s world-renowned youth academy, and the club took on the financial responsibility of his medical treatment, which included daily hormone injections costing over $1,000 a month.
The rest is history.
Lionel Messi would go on to become the greatest player in FC Barcelona’s history:
-
10 La Liga titles
-
4 UEFA Champions League trophies
-
7 Ballon d’Or awards (as of 2024)
-
Over 700 goals for club and country
-
And countless magical moments that changed the face of modern football.
Legacy of the Napkin
That napkin is now a priceless artifact of football history. While the original is owned privately, it has been displayed publicly on occasion and is considered one of the most significant “documents” in the sport—more meaningful than many gold-plated contracts signed over the years.
It’s a reminder that greatness doesn’t always begin with formality, lawyers, or grand ceremonies. Sometimes, all it takes is a vision, a napkin, and a leap of faith.
