20 years since Leo Messi's FC Barcelona debut

The date 16 October is an important one in the Barça calendar for one very special reason. 20 years ago on that day one Leo Messi made his very first appearance in official competition for the Barça first team, the first of some 778 made between October 2004 and 16 May 2021, the day of his final match as a Barça player. 

Montjuïc, a venue for the history books 

The Messi legend began at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys of all places, at the time the home ground of city rivals RCD Espanyol. The Catalan derby came in week seven of the season with Barça top of the league and los pericos in fifth place. 

Barça with injury problems 

With established first team players like Gerard López and Ludovic Giuly missing through injury and the likes of Jorquera and Edmílson carrying knocks, coach Frank Rijkaard was obliged to pick five players from the Barça Atlètic squad to complete his list of substitutes. A 17 year old Leo Messi was handed the number 30 shirt and watched from the dugout as Deco put Barça ahead early on. In the 67th minute a young Andrés Iniesta came on for Samuel Eto'o with Barça still leading thanks to the only goal of the game. 

Messi comes on for Deco

In the 82nd minute a legend was born. Leo Messi came on to replace Deco, showing all his potential and repertoire of skills in those eight minutes, his first in official competition for the first team. 

Without comparison 

The Argentine would go on to make 778 appearances in total for the Barça first team, scoring 672 goals. His honours included 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions Leagues, 9 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 3 European Super Cups and 3 Club World Cups, as well as individual prizes including no less than 6 Ballon d'Or awards as a blaugrana.