5) The passing of the torch – Messi’s first senior goal
While the rest of the country celebrated May day on 1 May 2005, Lionel Messi was working hard on the flank with Barcelona legend Ronaldinho against Albacete in La Liga. As they marched to the league title, it was Ronaldinho who supplied the all-important assist for Messi’s first goal for the senior team.
Receiving the ball near the final third, Messi passed it back to Ronaldinho in the centre before timing his run to beat the offside trap. The Brazilian spotted the run and chipped the ball over the defence into space. The goalkeeper came off his line but hesitated in no man’s land, allowing Messi all the time in the world to pick his spot and chip the ball over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net.
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“It was a special moment because there his career started as a professional and I had the chance to be part of the start of his history.” – Ronaldinho
The Camp Nou roared its approval, not just because of the ingenuity of the move but because a star was born. Ronaldinho, who had realised Messi’s potential and taken him under his wing, was only too happy to give him a piggyback ride as the fans rose to their feet.
Ronaldinho would end up passing on his no.10 shirt to Messi when he left Barcelona in 2008.
