Imagining a film about Lionel Messi’s illustrious career, one could envision the climax as his final World Cup match against Spain, a storybook conclusion.
The highly anticipated final of the 2026 World Cup, set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, resembles a Hollywood narrative, with Messi aiming for a second World Cup title. This match marks the first professional encounter between him and Lamine Yamal, his successor at Barcelona. Interestingly, this event occurs 19 years after Messi participated in a UNICEF photoshoot with a six-month-old Yamal, a remarkable coincidence. It also signifies Messi representing the nation that nurtured his footballing journey. At just 11 years old, he joined Barcelona’s academy, where he spent 21 years, including 17 years with the senior team, securing every possible trophy.
Spain’s Early Interest in Messi
Spain Set Sights On Messi Before Argentina Even Knew Him
Barcelona’s decision to recruit Messi at a young age led Spain to pursue him before Argentina recognized his extraordinary talent. Under Spanish nationality laws, citizens from Ibero-American countries, including Argentina, could apply for citizenship after just two years of residency, unlike the standard ten years for others. As Messi matured, he became eligible to represent Spain, prompting the Royal Spanish Football Federation to make efforts to secure him. Since Messi had not yet played for Argentina at any level, the opportunity for him to don the Spanish jersey was real. According to a recent ESPN documentary titled ‘The Forgotten Tape’, Ginés Meléndez, a youth coach, initiated the process by reaching out to Messi’s Barcelona teammate, Víctor Vázquez, and Barça’s youth coach, Alex García. However, Messi’s representative, Horacio Gaggioli, maintained that Messi was always determined to play for Argentina.
The VHS Tape That Changed Everything
A VHS Tape Reaches Argentina
Despite Messi’s rising fame, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) was unaware of him, and he was relatively unknown in Argentina’s football circles. Gaggioli and Messi’s father, Jorge, seized an opportunity when Argentina’s coach, Marcelo Bielsa, and his assistant, Claudio Vivas, visited Barcelona in 2002. They enlisted the help of Barca TV journalist Jaume Marcet, who compiled a video showcasing Messi’s skills. Bielsa was astonished by the footage, which displayed Messi’s incredible dribbling and agility. He insisted on watching it at normal speed, only to realize that Messi was indeed exceptional.
Missed Opportunities and Regrets
Lionel Messi Misses World Cup
Unfortunately, the clip only reached Argentina two months later, too late for Messi to be included in the 2003 U-17 World Cup squad. Hugo Tocalli, the youth coach at the time, opted not to make last-minute changes. After watching the tape, Tocalli expressed regret, especially after Argentina lost to Spain in the semi-finals. A chef from the Spanish team remarked that had Messi been selected, Argentina would have likely won the tournament, leaving Tocalli devastated.
A Race Against Time
AFA Head To A Phone Booth To Find Messi
This realization prompted a shift in Argentina’s strategy to ensure Messi represented them. However, they faced a significant hurdle: no one in the federation had Messi’s contact information. Omar Souto, the national team’s manager, resorted to dialing every ‘Messi’ listed in the phone directory until he finally reached Jorge Messi, who confirmed his son’s desire to play for Argentina.
The Secret Match That Secured Messi’s Future
A Secret Match For Messi And Misspelt Name
To officially associate Messi with the AFA, a friendly match was hastily arranged between Argentina’s U20 team and Paraguay’s U-23 squad at the Diego Maradona Stadium. The match coincided with the 18th anniversary of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory. However, the AFA made a significant error by misspelling Messi’s name in the call-up fax. A year later, Messi was finally included in the squad for the 2005 U-20 World Cup, where Argentina emerged victorious, and Messi earned the Golden Ball.
Messi’s Commitment to Argentina
Lionel Messi On Choosing Argentina
Years later, Messi reflected on the informal inquiries about playing for Spain, asserting his unwavering commitment to Argentina. He expressed his love for his national team and his desire to wear its colors. Vicente del Bosque, Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning coach, acknowledged the lengths he went to persuade Messi to play for Spain, but Messi’s loyalty to Argentina prevailed.