On August 17, 2005, Lionel Messi’s rising star was evident when Argentina faced Hungary in a friendly at Ferenc Puskás Stadium. At just 18, Messi had already made seven senior appearances for Barcelona, where his career was just beginning to flourish. His impressive performances with the youth team and his six goals that led Argentina to victory in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup just a month earlier secured him a spot on the senior national team.
Argentina was preparing for the 2006 World Cup, having struggled at the 2002 tournament and coming second in the 2004 Copa América, their best showing since winning the continental title in 1991 and 1993. The question was whether “the little boy from Rosario” could help revive Argentina’s status as a global soccer force.
Initially, Messi started the match on the bench, behind established players like Hernán Crespo and Roberto Ayala, with Chelsea’s José Mourinho watching from the stands. The game was 1-1 at halftime after goals from Maxi Rodríguez and Sándor Torghelle, but Argentina took the lead again in the 63rd minute thanks to a goal from Heinze.
Just after Argentina regained the lead, coach José Pékerman made the highly anticipated substitution, bringing Messi on for López in the 64th minute. After a few touches, Messi made his first impactful play—receiving a pass in Hungary’s half, he began a promising run toward the penalty box. His speed was hindered when defender Vilmos Vanczák pulled on Messi’s jersey. In an attempt to break free, Messi inadvertently swung his arm and struck Vanczák in the face.
Referee Markus Merk, who had a clear view, called a foul on Messi, issuing a red card after showing Vanczák a yellow card. Messi’s eagerly awaited debut ended in just 47 seconds, leaving him in shock as the crowd of 25,000 fans expressed their discontent.
“We had a tangle, and I wanted to free myself, but the referee saw it differently,” Messi recounted later. “I still had a lot of time to play, but then this happened. It wasn’t how I dreamed it would be.” Vanczák, reflecting on the incident in 2022, noted, “It was just a friendly!”
This red card marked one of only three in Messi’s entire club and international career, causing him to miss a friendly against England later that November. The two teams wouldn’t meet again until the 2026 World Cup semifinals, where Messi contributed to a 2-1 victory.
Now, two decades later, Messi is set to close the chapter on his illustrious Argentina career with a final match against Benin at Estadio Más Monumental. That forgettable debut will fade into the background, overshadowed by the countless unforgettable moments he has gifted to soccer fans everywhere.
Fan Take: Messi’s journey from a 47-second debut to becoming one of the all-time greats reminds us of the unpredictable nature of sports. As he bids farewell, soccer fans can reflect not only on his remarkable achievements but also on the lasting impact he has had on the sport and its global landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
