How a Napkin Led to Lionel Messi's $1.1 Billion Success Story
Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, was one of the most influential figure in soccer icon's life. Jorge had a huge impact on Lionel's life long before his son became a billionaire.That persistence led to one of the most famous stories in soccer history: the Barcelona commitment that was famously written on a napkin.AdvertisementWhen Messi was 13, he impressed Barcelona during his trial and waited for them to make a definite decision in December 2000. Jorge was getting more and more frustrated with the club's reluctance and was ready to walk away with his son if they couldn't come up with a deal.Barcelona's sporting director at the time, Carles Rexach, eventually stepped in.The Napkin That Changed Lionel Messi's LifeAt a meeting at the Pompeia Tennis Club in Barcelona, Rexach understood that Jorge was in need of a reassuring message that the club was going to sign his son. There was no formal contract on hand, so he wrote a commitment on a paper napkin to sign Messi.AdvertisementIt was signed by Rexach, transfer adviser Josep Minguella and Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli. That was the beginning of a relationship that would change Barcelona and soccer history, and it all started with a piece of paper.Messi went on to become Barcelona's all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated players in the sport.The figures that followed were astounding. Including salary, bonuses and other payments, Messi's 2017 Barcelona contract was reportedly valued at up to $673.9 million.AdvertisementThe napkin was also a collectible. The document that kickstarted Messi's career at Barcelona was sold at auction in 2024 for around $969,000, reflecting the immense value placed on the document.Jorge Messi's Role in Building a Billion-Dollar FortuneJorge's impact didn't stop with the Barcelona deal. He was always very close to Lionel, being his agent and business manager as Messi became one of the most marketable players in the world.AdvertisementJorge Messi passed away in Rosario at the age of 68, following a long illness. His passing was announced on August 8, 2026, and his family and the Argentine soccer community mourned the loss of a man who was a pivotal figure in Lionel's life and career.Now Forbes has pegged Messi's net worth at $1.1 billion, which makes him one of the few active athletes to become a billionaire. He has made his money from playing contracts, endorsements, investments and other business activities.AdvertisementAccording to Forbes, Messi has made around $1.2 billion from playing contracts, before taxes and agents' fees. When endorsements, memorabilia and other business income are added to his total career haul, it comes to about $1.8 billion.A father did not take another closed door. A club finally dedicated to a skinny 13-year-old from Rosario. And a napkin was the unlikely first page of Lionel Messi's story of how he went from Argentina to a $1.1 billion fortune.
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