Leo Messi - History of the legend
December 14
On 14 December, few months after Messi’s trial, an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their commitment. First team director Carles Rexach didn’t have any paper nearby, but his urgency to sign Messi made him write the contract on a paper napkin.
October 16
After being called up to the senior team, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol in La Liga, coming on in the 82′ minute.
May 1
Messi scored his first goal on May 1, 2005, against Albacete, assisted by Ronaldinho, becoming the youngest ever goalscorer for the club at that time.
July 2
Messi led Argentina to trophy in the 2005 FIFA Youth Championship. Before the final, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. He scored twice in the final against Nigeria (2-1) winning the championship for Argentina and finishing the tournament as the top scorer with 6 goals.
August 17
Messi made his first-team international debut in August 2005, during a friendly game against Hungary. Messi was sent off just one minute after he entered the field. There are still debates on whether he actually deserved the red card.
November 2
On November 2, 2005, Lionel Messi scored his first Champions League goal at the age of 18, against the Greek team Panathinaikos in a 5-0 win at Camp Nou.
March 10
On March 10, in El Clasico against Real Madrid, Messi scored his first hat-trick in a 3-3 draw, even though Barcelona had 10 players. Messi became the first player to score a hat-trick in El Clasico, since Ivan Zamorano (for Real Madrid in the 94–95 season).
December 1
At the age of 22, Messi won his first Ballon d’Or and FIFA Award for Best Player of the Year, both awards with the largest voting margin in the history of each trophy at that time.
