Lionel Messi is poised to appear in his third FIFA World Cup final as the captain of Argentina. Having led the team to the finals in 2014 and 2022, where they emerged victorious in the latter, Messi now aims to defend their title in back-to-back World Cup finals against Spain. Interestingly, many fans may not recall that Messi nearly committed his international career to Spain, a country where he resided from September 2000 to August 2021.
Event Context
At the age of 13, he joined La Masia, Barcelona’s esteemed youth academy, and spent the next 21 years in Catalonia before moving to PSG in 2021.
Former Argentina national team coach, Jose Pekerman, who oversaw Messi’s senior international debut, revealed that he first learned about Messi during the 2003 U-17 World Cup, thanks to Argentine staff who had been informed by Spanish coaches. They noted that Argentina would have triumphed if they had Messi on their side.
Additionally, Vivas shared a memory from a European tour after Marcelo’s contract renewal with Argentina, where they aimed to clarify their decision post the 2002 South Korea-Japan World Cup. During this trip, an Argentine approached him in Barcelona.
Unfortunately, by the time a video of Messi reached Hugo Tocalli, coach of Argentina’s youth teams, it was nearly too late to make a decision as the 2003 U-17 World Cup was imminent. Tocalli opted not to summon Messi, and the team ultimately lost 2-3 to Spain in the semi-final. Afterward, a chef from the Spanish squad mentioned to Tocalli that had Messi played for Argentina, they would have likely won.
Upon returning to Argentina, Tocalli resolved to integrate Messi into the national setup. A friendly match was quickly arranged, albeit in a rather unconventional manner. The referee had to be Argentine to meet FIFA standards since the game was hastily scheduled.
Gabriel Brazenas, the appointed referee, recounted receiving a last-minute call from the AFA referees’ office, instructing him to officiate a match at Argentinos Juniors’ stadium between Argentina and Paraguay, requiring FIFA documentation. With urgency in the air, he noted that a young talent would make an appearance in the second half.
He later remarked, ‘It didn’t cross my mind to ask who was organizing all this until I saw the young boy come on.’ As Messi entered the field, he astounded everyone with his incredible skills.
In a parallel universe, it’s possible Messi could have donned the Spanish jersey and been part of their golden era from 2008 to 2012, which saw them claim two UEFA European Championships and a World Cup.
Player Focus
In related news, Shakira recently made a striking comment regarding Lionel Messi after Argentina’s impressive victory over England, gaining nods of approval from Antonela Roccuzzo.
However, it’s worth noting that the Argentine national team recognized Messi’s potential long before that moment. Back in 2002, Argentina’s head coach Marcelo Bielsa and his assistant Claudio Vivas visited Barcelona to evaluate some of their senior players.
At that time, Horacio Gaggioli, one of Messi’s early agents, sought a VHS tape of Messi’s highlights from a Barcelona TV journalist.
In an interview with ESPN, Gaggioli shared, “It was actually Jorge, Leo’s father, who suggested I get some footage for the Argentine national team since they were coming to Barcelona. At that time, Leo wasn’t very well known in Argentina. We had a video provided by Barça displaying his skills, so I visited the Hotel Princesa Sofia where Bielsa and Vivas were staying. I asked for Vivas, Bielsa’s assistant.”
“He began discussing Messi and mentioned that Spain was interested in recruiting him. The tape showcased Messi’s quick dribbling skills; although he was small and had long hair, he was incredibly sharp and focused.
“I mentioned him to Marcelo, who asked, ‘Does he play well?’ My response was, ‘He doesn’t just play well; he’s extraordinary!’ Marcelo then requested to see the footage, insisting I play it at normal speed. When I explained that it was already at normal speed, he exclaimed, ‘This kid is unbelievable!’
The VHS tape in question includes the memorable black-and-white highlights of a young Messi. Former player Federico Almerares also recalls, ‘We knew he was an attacking midfielder. During the match against Paraguay, he came on in that role and began showcasing his immense talent. I thought he would dribble around the goalkeeper, and it looked like a guaranteed goal. Everyone was astonished.’
Despite interest from Spain, Messi’s loyalty to Argentina was unwavering. Gaggioli revealed, ‘I received numerous inquiries asking if he might play for the Spanish national team. My response was always the same: ‘We need to talk to him and his family, he is certainly capable, but the decision is ultimately his.’ From the beginning, Leo was clear: his desire was to play for both Argentina and Barcelona.’
Team Analysis
Tocalli recounted an impactful moment: “After we finished our meal, the Spanish team’s chef approached us. We were familiar with him, and he said, ‘Tocalli, if you had brought the kid from Barcelona, your team would have been champions.’ That comment struck me like a dagger. I paused and asked, ‘You don’t mean Messi, do you?’ The chef replied, ‘How could you not bring him if you know him?'”
Match Outlook
That night, I was restless with anticipation about my upcoming conversation with Grondona. I needed to find a way to urgently facilitate Messi’s participation in the Argentine national team. He reassured me, saying, ‘Stay calm. When you return, arrange for a match with an international referee and ensure he signs the match report. Just relax and don’t worry.’
