On October 16, 2004, a 17-year-old Argentine took his first steps in LaLiga, unaware that he was about to change football forever. Wearing the No. 30 shirt, Lionel Messi came on as a substitute for Deco — now Barcelona’s sporting director — at the Olympic Stadium of Montjuïc, marking the beginning of an era that would redefine the sport.

The Beginning of a Legend

That derby against Espanyol was the quiet start of a legendary story. Messi’s debut was brief but full of glimpses of his immense potential. Over the years, that timid teenager became the face of Spanish football — and the most prolific player in LaLiga history, scoring 474 goals in 520 matches.

His brilliance went far beyond scoring: he also became the league’s all-time assist leader with 192, and the player with the most hat-tricks (36).

A Legacy Beyond Numbers

During his time at FC Barcelona, Messi lifted 10 LaLiga titles and finished as the top scorer in eight different seasons. But more than the records, he transformed how football was played and watched in Spain — setting standards that few, if any, will ever match.

Twenty-one years after that fateful debut, Messi’s impact still resonates across LaLiga and beyond. What began as a routine substitution in a Catalan derby became the dawn of a golden era — one defined by magic, mastery, and a player who turned every touch into history.