19 years ago today, Messi signed a napkin and the rest is history

It's one of the most important documents in football history but Lionel Messi's first Barcelona contract was actually written on a napkin 19 years ago.

A 13-year-old Messi arrived at Barca in September 2000.

Joan Gaspart, Barca's president at the time, thought there were some risks in signing Messi but Rexach elected to write out the following contract on the napkin, signed by all three members present.

"In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, and in the presence of Messrs. Minguella and Horacio, Carlos Rexach, Technical Secretary of F.C.B. is committed under his responsibility and despite some opinions against signing the player Lionel Messi as long as we maintain the agreed amounts."

Everything became official from then on and Messi started his journey in Catalonia, turning out for the youth sides, C and B teams before making the step up to the first-team.

Just the six Ballon d'Ors, six European Golden Shoes, ten La Liga titles, six Copa Del Reys, four Champions Leagues for Barcelona since then.

And it all started with a napkin.