Lionel Messi’s Famous Barcelona Napkin Contract Sold For Nearly $1 Million

May 19 2024

The napkin on which Barcelona committed to sign a 13-year-old Lionel Messi has been sold in an auction for an nearly $1 million.

The official amount confirmed by auction house Bonhams was $969,000 or an insane £762,400.

The said napkin is iconic in football folklore as it shows the simplicity as to how a 13-year old Lionel Messi committed to join FC Barcelona and move to Spain and also shows how desperate the club were to sign the Argentinian winger.

The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca’s former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.

Messi managed to become one of Barcelona’s greatest players, winning over 30 trophies and leaving the Catalan club as their all-time leading scorer with 672 goals.

“Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career,” Ian Ehling, the head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York, said in a statement.

“It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

#MaltaDaily

Tyson Fury Suffers First Ever Defeat To Oleksandr Usyk

May 19 2024

British boxing star Tyson Fury has suffered his first ever professional boxing defeat to Ukrainian cruiserweight turned heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.

The highly anticipated unification bout finally happened yesterday after being postponed twice due to various reasons.

It is clear that the result has sent shockwaves through the boxing world with many having believed that Tyson’s skill, physique and size would be too much to handle for the nimble Ukrainian however Usyk managed to shock he world yet again.

With this split decision win, Usyk has become the first unified heavyweight champion (meaning he holds all the belts available) since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

After the fight and the decision had been announced, Fury seemed in rather good spirits but also a bit bitter stating that he thought he won the fight and that the fact that Usyk’s country is currently at war helped the Ukrainian win the decision.

There were no official knockdowns however the closest was in round 9 when Usyk rocked Fury with a quick and powerful combination of punches.

#MaltaDaily

Malta In The Middle Of Two Massive Storms

May 19 2024

Famous weather update Facebook page Aġġornament tat-temp, announced the latest developments regarding the very strange weather around us today, revealing that Malta is currently sitting in between two different storms in the Mediterranean.

The nearby storms are intense and include a large amount of lightning and even strong gusts of wind. The biggest storm is the one over Sicily.

The weather page It-Temp Madwarna revealed that a storm is approaching the Maltese islands, “An elevated thunderstorm is coming in from the West (against the wind) in the coming time. More muddy rain, as predicted,” the page wrote.

#MaltaDaily

Dolphins Spotted During Comino Trip

May 19 2024

Dolphins have recently been spotted in Maltese waters, rekindling the yearly yearning for dolphin spottings across Malta and Gozo during the Spring and Summer seasons.

Instagram accounts @spiritofmaltacatamaran and @tony_boatparty shared videos of two graceful creatures making a subtle cameo during one of their trips to Comino. This sighting is part of a trend expected to continue throughout the summer, offering a magical experience for those lucky enough to witness it.

Authorities and marine experts emphasise the importance of responsible dolphin watching. Anyone spotting dolphins in Maltese waters should approach with caution, maintain a respectful distance, and avoid touching or feeding them. Throwing objects or food is strictly discouraged, and following dolphins is prohibited to ensure their safety and well-being.

These guidelines help protect the dolphins and preserve their natural behaviours, allowing everyone to enjoy their presence without causing harm.

Happy Dolphin Spotting!

#MaltaDaily