This November 16, Leo Messi celebrates a new anniversary of his professional debut with FC Barcelona and the club has shared a simple, but very special message on its social networks to commemorate the historic day. Barça uploaded an image of the Rosario player competing for a ball in the friendly played in 2003 against Porto (2-0 defeat by the culé), with a series of coded messages within the photograph.

'La Pulga' came on for Fernando Navarro in the 74th minute and left some flashes of quality in a duel that served to inaugurate the Do Dragao stadium, which a year later would host the Euro Cup held in Portugal. With Frank Rijkaard on the bench, Barça began a cycle that ended up being very successful, with two Leagues, a Spanish Super Cup and a Champions League between 2005 and 2006.

Those would be the first four titles of the 35 trophies he won in his 17 seasons as a culé. The current Inter Miami forward said goodbye to the club in 2021 after playing 778 games in which he scored 672 goals and 303 assists, with 81 cautions and a single expulsion.

The Barça lineup on the day of Leo Messi's debut

  • Jorquera;
  • Óscar López,
  • Fernando Navarro (min. 74, Messi),
  • Oleguer (Min. 80, Tiago),
  • Rafa Márquez;
  • Ros (Min. 76, Oriol Laughed),
  • Xavi Hernández,
  • Gabri;
  • Luis García (min. 21, Expósito),
  • Santamaría (min. 67, Jordi Gómez),
  • Luis Enrique.
  • Goals of the match: 1-0, Derlei (min. 55, p.); 2-0, Hugo Almeida (min. 68)

Barça and Leo Messi will join their paths again in the future

In principle, it is expected that the '10' from Rosario and Barça will have direct contact this month to commemorate the club's 125th anniversary. Although, due to scheduling issues, it is very difficult for Leo to attend the official anniversary gala, he will surely share a congratulatory message to the club.

In 2025, once the team returns to the Spotify Camp Nou, a tribute is planned for 'La Pulga', since his farewell in 2021 took place in a private event, without public, due to health restrictions due to the covid pandemic. -19. Looking to the future, when the Argentine star hangs up his boots, the possibility of seeing him in some position on the Barça board remains open, since the 'GOAT' does not seem to like the idea of ​​training very much, but he does like sports management.