Messi's MUNDIAL MEMORIES: WORLD CUP DEBUT
In the countdown to the start of the World Cup Finals, every day we are looking back at Messi's World Cup history with his most important moments - good and bad - from the last three tournaments.
Today, we go back to where it all started..
Number One: World Cup debut
16 June 2006, Gelsenkirchen
After sitting out the first group game, a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast, Lionel Messi made his World Cup debut as a late substitute in Argentina’s second match against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 Finals in Germany.
Messi initially watched from the bench as his teammates delivered a brilliant performance, who racing into an early lead through Maxi Rodriguez and putting the game out of sight by half-time, going 3-0 up with goals from Esteban Cambiasso – latching onto Hernan Crespo’s beautiful back heel – and a second for Rodriguez.
The score stayed the same until 75 minutes had been played, when manager Jose Pekerman decided the time was right to unleash his teenage sensation Messi, who replaced two-goal hero Rodriguez.
Messi only needed three minutes to make a major impact, dribbling down the left wing and sending a perfect low centre across the face of goal, giving the grateful Crespo a simple tap-in to make it 4-0.
Another substitute, Carlos Tevez, soon added a fifth with a super solo strike, and the scoring was completed two minutes from time. Receiving the ball just outside the box, Tevez laid a well-weighted pass to his right into the path of the onrushing Messi, who took one touch to control before steering a low right-footed shot inside the near post.
Messi had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes, and already he had registered an assist and a goal. At the age of just 18 years and 357 days, he became the youngest player ever to appear for Argentina in the World Cup Finals, and also the sixth-youngest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.
After starring as Argentina won the World Youth Championship a year before, his spectacular debut proved that he was now ready to step up to the big time. A World Cup star had been born.
Today, we go back to where it all started..
Number One: World Cup debut
16 June 2006, Gelsenkirchen
After sitting out the first group game, a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast, Lionel Messi made his World Cup debut as a late substitute in Argentina’s second match against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 Finals in Germany.
Messi initially watched from the bench as his teammates delivered a brilliant performance, who racing into an early lead through Maxi Rodriguez and putting the game out of sight by half-time, going 3-0 up with goals from Esteban Cambiasso – latching onto Hernan Crespo’s beautiful back heel – and a second for Rodriguez.
The score stayed the same until 75 minutes had been played, when manager Jose Pekerman decided the time was right to unleash his teenage sensation Messi, who replaced two-goal hero Rodriguez.
Messi only needed three minutes to make a major impact, dribbling down the left wing and sending a perfect low centre across the face of goal, giving the grateful Crespo a simple tap-in to make it 4-0.
Another substitute, Carlos Tevez, soon added a fifth with a super solo strike, and the scoring was completed two minutes from time. Receiving the ball just outside the box, Tevez laid a well-weighted pass to his right into the path of the onrushing Messi, who took one touch to control before steering a low right-footed shot inside the near post.
Messi had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes, and already he had registered an assist and a goal. At the age of just 18 years and 357 days, he became the youngest player ever to appear for Argentina in the World Cup Finals, and also the sixth-youngest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.
After starring as Argentina won the World Youth Championship a year before, his spectacular debut proved that he was now ready to step up to the big time. A World Cup star had been born.