2004/2005

Messi made his league debut against Espanyol on 16 October 2004 at 17 years and 114 days, becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga. Lionel scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete on 1 May 2005, Messi was 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old, becoming the youngest to ever score in a La Liga game for Barcelona. He made nine appearances in the season, scoring that one goal.

In June 2004, he debuted for Argentina at youth level, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay. Most notably, in 2005 he was part of a team of talented new players that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. There, he won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe for the best player. He scored two gaols in final against Nigeria.

A star had been born.