It has been two decades since Lionel Messi first appeared for Barcelona, marking his debut on matchday seven of the 2004-05 La Liga season.
Recently, SPORT shared an intriguing story that gives us a look into how Messi’s long-awaited debut came about behind the scenes.
The journey leading to Messi’s official debut was full of ups and downs. During the 2003-04 season, Messi played for five different Barcelona youth teams, showing the club’s intent to develop him quickly.
Despite making his debut with the reserve team, there was a time when he was sent back to Juvenil A and Juvenil B, two of Barcelona’s youth squads.
The missed opportunity in 2003
However, one unforgettable moment for Messi came in November 2003. He was called up by then-coach Frank Rijkaard for a match against FC Porto, which was held to inaugurate Estadio do Dragao.
Messi, along with several other youth players, travelled as part of a squad filled with substitutes. Though the match was unofficial, it was a major milestone for the young Argentine, as it brought him a step closer to the first team.
Porto won the game, and Messi missed a couple of scoring chances. His parents, Jorge and Celia, watched a summary of the match the next day, and though they did not say much, Messi knew they were disappointed he hadn’t scored.
The moment
The summer of 2004 brought Messi new opportunities. Luis Garcia left for Liverpool, opening up space in the first team. However, there was still doubt about how Messi would fit into a star-studded Barcelona squad.
At the time, Messi usually played as an attacking midfielder with the freedom to move across the pitch, which made it even harder to secure a regular spot.
Although Messi made his official debut in October 2004 against Espanyol, it was not easy for him to settle in right away. The team was hit with injuries to key players like Edmilson, Gabri, and Henrik Larsson, forcing Rijkaard to give Messi more chances.
After playing just about 10 minutes in his debut, Messi featured in six more matches, but he saw limited playing time, with most of his action coming in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
His early days with Barcelona’s first team were challenging, and there was even talk of loaning him out. However, everything changed in 2005 during the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Juventus.
Although Juventus won the game on penalties, Messi’s performance in that game solidified his place in the squad, and from that moment on, there was no looking back.
He was on his way to becoming a footballing sensation, the likes of which the world had never seen before.
