FC Barcelona took fans down memory lane this week by sharing a video of Lionel Messi‘s first professional goal, a moment that marked the beginning of one of the most celebrated careers in soccer history.
The goal came in 2005 against Albacete, when Messi was just 17 years old and beginning to carve out his place with the club’s first team. The clip shows a young Messi making a well-timed run behind the defense before receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Ronaldinho.
With remarkable composure for a teenager, Messi lifted a delicate chip over the goalkeeper and into the net, giving an early glimpse of the touch, awareness and confidence that would later define his career, a legendary one with the LaLiga powerhouse.
Barcelona’s post resonates with fans
Barcelona‘s post quickly resonated with supporters, many of whom remember the goal as the first sign that the club had uncovered a generational talent. At the time, Messi was still finding his footing at the senior level, but the calm finish against Albacete offered a preview of what was to come.
That first goal proved to be the opening chapter of an extraordinary run in which Messi went on to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, win multiple Ballon d’Or awards and help the club capture numerous domestic and international trophies.
The video served as a reminder of how a simple moment, assisted by another club legend in Ronaldinho, launched a career that would go on to redefine greatness in the modern game.
Barca gets ready for Albacete
The reason why FC Barcelona posted the video of Messi‘s first professional goal is because the team is getting ready for their Copa del Rey quarter-final against Albacete, a single-leg tie to be played at the Carlos Belmonte on Tuesday. Head coach Hansi Flick told the media that it’s a competition he clearly enjoys, saying that “what I like about the cup is exactly this. Very often you get surprising results.”
Flick stressed the need for full focus, regardless of the opposition. “We always analyse the opponent” he said. “We have to adapt to their style, their stadium, and step onto the pitch with the right attitude and mentality. We have to be 100% concentrated.”
Reflecting on recent form, the German coach was pleased but demanding: “On Saturday we played very well against Elche and I’m very happy, but we still have to improve the small details. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about getting better. And we’ve improved a lot since the game against Chelsea.”
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