How would the past 20 years of international football have looked if Lionel Messi had played for Spain and not Argentina? Could he instead have been lining up for La Roja in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final?
World Cup 2026
For Messi, not representing the country of his birth was never an option. But there was a moment in his young career when, still unknown in his homeland, Spain sensed an opportunity to get him to commit his future to them.
With Spain on the scene, once word escaped of this long-haired teenager from Rosario tearing it up for Barcelona’s academy, panic set in at the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
What followed is a remarkable story involving a Messi highlight reel on VHS tape, a frantic day ringing everyone called Messi in the phone book, people repeatedly getting the future superstar’s name wrong, and a hastily arranged match to ensure Argentina tied him down.
Match Details
– Stream ‘Messi: The Forgotten Tape’ on ESPN+ (U.S.)
– World Cup final: What you need to know, predictions, odds
– Messi first met future World Cup final opponent Yamal as a baby
Tournament Impact
As part of a new documentary, ESPN spoke to those behind Messi’s first international call-up, providing new details on the start of a tale that culminated in 2022 when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner led La Albiceleste to their third World Cup triumph.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on May 13, 2026 and has been updated. All of the quotes from interviewees were originally in Spanish, and have been translated
The 13-year-old Messi arrived in Barcelona in 2000, and it was soon obvious inside the club’s La Masia academy that he was a generational talent. Barça youth team coach Alex García and Messi’s teammate Víctor Vázquez couldn’t understand why there was such little interest from Argentina. Spain youth team coach Ginés Meléndez set them a task: convince him to play for La Roja. The same question was put to Horacio Gaggioli, one of Messi’s early representatives.
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