Jesse Craig, founder of the high-end concierge service Acquir, which represented the seller of the record-setting Messi in a private deal with Fanatics Collect, said he couldn’t convince owners of PSA 10 examples to sell for $500,000 in the months leading up to the record-breaking sale.

Lionel Messi has hinted the 2026 World Cup may come too late for him, casting doubt on a possible “final dance” with Cristiano Ronaldo.

A 2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks Lionel Messi rookie card -- assessed a perfect 10 by card grader Professional Sports Authenticator -- was sold for $1.5 million through Fanatics Collect's fledgling private sales network.

The record deal is the latest in a recent run of seven-figure private sales for Messi’s iconic Mega Cracks rookie card that started when another PSA 10 example — there are just 20 total — sold privately through Fanatics Collect for $1 million during the National Sports Collectors Convention in August.

Why Lionel Messi has chosen to skip Argentina’s final World Cup qualifier against Ecuador and rather focus on Inter Miami?

Witness the epic clash as Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami CF against the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup Final.