The 2004/05 season saw the introduction of Lionel Messi to the world of football. While Messi managed only 7 league appearances for the senior team, totaling 77 minutes of action, he was a guaranteed starter for the reserve side, Barcelona B. The boy from Rosario ensured that the senior team payed exceedingly close attention to his development with performances like this.
The video highlights a 17-year-old Messi in action against Espanyol in the Barcelonian Derby, the opponents being Espanyol’s reserve side. Messi played in 17 games and scored 6 goals for the Barcelona B squad throughout the 2004/05 season. Here, you’ll be treated to one of those goals, a classic Messi run and finish.
The hair is unkept, the jersey number is '11' and his frame is much more meager, but the grace and style of his play are undoubtable. It's all vintage Messi.
While still obviously lacking in the physical department, his opponents are clearly older, taller and stronger, all of the precursors to Messi’s unstoppable game are on display. Touch, vision and a turn of pace that sees him burst beyond imbalanced defenders, Messi makes the outstanding age and size difference irrelevant.
Defenders are left in his wake, resorting to last-ditch slide tackles and jersey pulling. You have to suspect that they realized they were playing against a prodigously talented youngster by the end of the match.
The evidence of the boy being just a bit special was obvious for all to see. Accordingly, the 2004/05 season also marked Messi’s debut with the senior team. Messi made his competitive league debut for Barcelona on October 16, 2004. He came on as a substitute against Espanyol, aged only 17-years-old, becoming the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition.
He would go on to score his first senior goal on May 1, 2005 against Albacete. He became the youngest-ever scorer for the club and has since gone on to add an additional 295 goals in La Liga.
Related: Two 11-Year-Old Friends On Barcelona's Youth Team Destroy Everyone
