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The napkin on which Lionel Messi's first ever Barcelona contract was signed has sold at auction for a whopping £762,000 - more than two and a half times the starting price.

The napkin, which dates back to December 2000, promises to sign Messi - who was only 13 years old at the time.

The superstar striker joined the Spanish giants a month later and went on to become their record goal scorer.

Messi won 10 Spanish League championships and four Champions League titles during a 17-year career at Barcelona, before leaving for Paris St-Germain in 2021.

What's the story behind the napkin?

The napkin was signed at a meeting arranged by Barcelona's director Carles Rexach, who invited Messi's father Jorge to lunch, after Messi's first trial with the club.

Written in Spanish in blue ink, the agreement on the napkin reads: "In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona's sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon."

The napkin changed the fortunes of both the football club and Messi, who went on to become a Barcelona legend and one of the greatest players of all time.

The napkin went up for auction with a starting price of £300,000, but just like the player, it went on to exceed all expectations.