Barcelona recalls a legendary moment: 21 years ago, Lionel Messi made his debut for the club

Barcelona has not forgotten about Lionel Messi, even after his departure. Today, the club marked an important milestone on social media — 21 years ago, on November 16, 2003, the Argentine forward made his debut for the senior team of the Catalan giants.

Details. The football legend made his first appearance in a friendly match against Porto, when Messi was only 16 years old. In that game, coach Frank Rijkaard brought the young player on in the 71st minute, replacing Fernando Navarro.

This debut marked the beginning of Messi's legendary career, which would see him spend 17 seasons at Barcelona, becoming the club's symbol and its most significant player in history. Despite the changes that have occurred in the Argentine's career, Barcelona continues to celebrate the achievements of its greatest-ever player.

• Read also: Talent and Aggression in One Bottle: The Most Controversial Moments Involving Lionel Messi

Reminder. Lionel Messi currently plays for Inter Miami. In the current season, Messi has scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists in 25 matches for the American club.