ThisArgentinianstriker'sfootballingcareerstartedin1995atNewell'sOldBoys,whereheplayeduntiltheyear2000.Attheageof13,LionelMessicrossedtheAtlantictotryhisluckinBarcelona,andjoinedtheUnder14s.Messimadespectacularprogressateachofthedifferentagelevels,climbingthroughtheranksofthedifferentyouthteamsandthenBar??aC,followedbyBar??aBandthefirstteaminrecordtime.
Inthe2003-2004season,whenhewasstillonly16,MessimadehisfirstteamdebutinafriendlywithPortothatmarkedtheopeningofthenewDragaostadium.Thefollowingchampionship-winningseason,MessimadehisfirstappearanceinanofficialmatchonOctober16,2004,inBarcelona'sderbywinagainstEspanyolattheOlympicStadium(0-1).
Withseveralfirstteamplayersseriouslyinjured,theservicesofseveralreserveteamplayerswerecalledupon,andMessibecamearegularfeatureofBar??asquads.OnMay1,2005,hebecametheyoungestplayerevertoscorealeaguegoalforFCBarcelona-againstAlbacetewhenMessiwasonly17years,10monthsand7daysold.
AttheUnder20WorldCupinHolland,MessinotonlywonthetitlewithArgentina,butwasalsotheleadinggoalscorerandwasvotedbestplayerinthetournament.Aged18years,hehadbecomeoneofthehottestpropertiesintheworldgame.Shortlyafter,hemadehisfirstfullinternationalappearanceinafriendlyagainstHungary.
Hisbreakthroughasaplayercameinthe2005-06season,startingwithanamazingperformanceintheJoanGamperTrophymatchagainstJuventus.HewasalsooutstandingattheSantiagoBernabéu,inBarcelona'sunforgettable3-0win,andalsoatStamfordBridge,intheChampionsLeaguematchagainstChelsea.Injurykepthimsidelinedformuchofthelatterstageoftheseason.Messiplayedatotalof17leaguegames,6intheChampionsLeagueand2intheCopadelRey.Messiscoredeightgoals.
