Lionel Messi’s debut in American soccer with Inter Miami has had a profound impact on the sport in the U.S. Many new fans have become interested in soccer due to Messi’s presence, and his outstanding play in recent weeks has only added to his legend. As a result, Messi’s rookie soccer cards have seen a significant increase in value.
The most valuable and popular rookie card is the 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Rookie #71. A PSA 9 graded copy recently sold for over $23,000 at auction. Only 48 copies of this card have earned a PSA 9 grade, with just 19 graded a perfect Gem-Mint PSA 10. The value of this card has increased by about $2,000 to $4,000 in the last few months.
The second most popular rookie card is the 2004 Panini Stickers Colecciones Este Rookie. A PSA 8 graded copy of this card sold for $2,500 at an eBay auction. Only 44 have earned a PSA 8 grade, with just 51 graded higher. This card is becoming harder to find, especially in high-grade examples.
Other notable rookie cards include the 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Barca Campeon (Spanish) Rookie #35, the 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Barca Campio (Catalan) Rookie #35, and the 2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks Barca-Campeon Facsimile Autograph Rookie #89.
Overall, Messi’s rookie cards have seen a surge in value due to his dominant play and impact in the US. Collectors and investors should keep an eye on these cards as their value is expected to continue to climb.
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