From homeless to millionaire: How Messi stickers changed his life

Damian Olivera Bergallo was homeless when he arrived in the United States as an immigrant. He recalls sleeping in a car with only $200 in his pocket. That was all the money he had at the start of his stay in the USA. Years later, he can claim the status of a millionaire.

The Latino invested his savings into producing collectible stickers featuring Lionel Messi. Olivera Bergallo began selling memorabilia related to the soccer player when Messi first joined FC Barcelona.

Damian Olivera Bergallo's products increased in value and became desirable items for collectors. What were once stickers sold from the trunk of a car are now worth up to $300,000. The decision to invest in sticker production was a bullseye.

Damian Olivera Bergallo once met Lionel Messi. The captain of the Argentina national team invited the sticker creator to his home.

He personally opened the door for me and welcomed me. He learned about me from an article in an Argentine newspaper and was very interested in what I was doing. I showed him the cards, explained the differences, and answered many questions, he recalls of his meeting with Lionel Messi in an interview with "El Mundo."

Damian Olivera Bergallo remembers that, at one point, his stickers made up 95 percent of the market for Lionel Messi memorabilia. Currently, he faces competition from China, where cards are produced on a massive scale. As a result, Olivera Bergallo now focuses on limited editions of high-quality products.

Twelve years ago, I emigrated to the United States, and the beginnings were tough. Essentially, I ended up on the street, living and sleeping in a car. I really didn't expect then how much stickers would change my life. This is the American dream, he shares.