Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has sent a deeply emotional message to his former club, FC Barcelona, celebrating the 21st anniversary of a landmark moment in his glittering career. It was on this day, back in 2004, that the Argentine maestro made his official debut in La Liga, an occasion he recently described with profound sentiment as "truly incredible."
The Dawn of a Legend: October 16, 2004
The date of October 16, 2004, is forever etched in football history, marking the unheralded debut of Lionel Messi for FC Barcelona in Spain’s top flight. It was the moment a diminutive Argentine teenager, sporting the number 30 shirt, stepped onto the pitch during a tense 1-0 victory against local rivals Espanyol in the Derbi Barceloni. Then-coach Frank Rijkaard demonstrated immediate faith in the club's prodigious academy product, bringing Messi on for Deco in the 80th minute at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys to help secure the narrow win, which had been set up by Deco's decisive ninth-minute goal.
Though his participation was brief—a mere ten minutes—that appearance launched a professional journey spanning 21 years and counting, a career that would fundamentally redefine greatness in the sport. During that initial 2004/05 campaign, playing time was necessarily limited. Rijkaard carefully managed the youngster's minutes, restricting him to just seven La Liga appearances as he learned alongside established superstars like Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Henrik Larsson, and Ludovic Giuly, who dominated the attacking positions. However, this cautious approach only built the foundation for an unprecedented explosion of talent. The subsequent years saw Messi transform into a global phenomenon, achieving a personal statistical peak in the 2011/12 season when he netted an astounding 73 goals across just 60 appearances for the Spanish club—a single-season scoring record few believe will ever be broken.
A Heartfelt Anniversary and a Global Reaction
Two decades and one year later, the significance of that debut remains immense, not least to Messi himself. Marking the 21st anniversary, the Inter Miami forward took to his official Instagram account to share a poignant message. He posted a classic image of himself in the Barcelona number 30 shirt, accompanying it with a succinct yet deeply emotional caption that read: "21 years already... incredible." This heartfelt acknowledgment quickly resonated across the global football community, reminding fans of the roots of his illustrious journey.
The official La Liga account was equally moved to commemorate the milestone, posting on X (formerly Twitter) with a celebratory video clip of the substitution moment. Their message hailed the day as "The beginning of the LEGEND." Messi wore the number 30 for his first two seasons before progressing to the number 19 shirt. He finally inherited the revered number 10 jersey three years later, a number that became synonymous with his magic until his temporary return to the number 30 during his two-year tenure at Paris Saint-Germain following his difficult and emotional departure from Barcelona in 2021.
The Inter Miami Chapter and the MLS Push for Glory
Having definitively left the European stage, the 38-year-old superstar now anchors Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), where he continues to inspire his team to chase domestic honors. The team currently sits third in the Eastern Conference standings, determined to secure the highly sought-after MLS Cup. While Messi has already led the Herons to success in the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield, the MLS Cup remains the one major domestic title to elude him in North America.
The opportunity for glory this season is particularly compelling due to the star power assembled in Miami. The squad features the esteemed quartet of former Barcelona teammates: Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Additionally, they boast the presence of 2022 World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul. Under the guidance of manager Javier Mascherano, the team is heavily favored to compete fiercely for the title.
Messi remains the primary catalyst for Inter Miami's success, demonstrating that his scoring touch has not faded. This MLS season alone, he leads the league with 26 goals and is second with 15 assists, ranking him first and second respectively across both the Eastern and Western Conferences in direct goal contributions. However, the clock is ticking: reports indicate that veterans Busquets and Alba are set to retire at the end of the current MLS season. This impending farewell adds a layer of urgency and emotional weight to the campaign, motivating the squad to deliver the ultimate piece of silverware while the iconic quartet is still together. The pursuit of the MLS Cup is not just about adding another trophy; it is about capping off a historic era for these Barcelona legends in their new American home.
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