Firsts and lasts for Lionel Messi at Barcelona

#2 Goals for Barcelona

Ronaldinho mentored Lionel Messi throughout his time at Camp Nou

First:

Lionel Messi has bagged over 750 career goals, out of which 672 have come while playing for Barcelona. The floodgates for his insurmountable goal-scoring statistics opened on May 1, 2005, a whole seven months after his official debut.

#Messi #Barca #Barcelona #football #FCB #messi2021 On May 1, 2005, Lionel Messi, then aged 17, scored his first goal for FC Barcelona with a clever lob against Albacete. pic.twitter.com/Gc3BHXiIMb

— Nico (@Nico37332239) August 5, 2021

Playing against Albacete in La Liga, Lionel Messi found the net in the dying embers of the game, having been brought on for Samuel Eto'o with just moments left on the clock. However, the young prodigy took no time in scoring his first professional goal. Following a clean ball from Ronaldinho, Messi stuck it past Raúl Valbuena, finishing off the move with an exquisite lob that left the keeper dumbfounded. Barcelona ran out 2-0 victors as a result.

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Leo Messi opened the scoring in his last game for FCB

Last:

Poetically, the last goal that Lionel Messi would ever score for Barca came in his final appearance for the club. A rare bird in myriads of goals, his ultimate strike proved to be a close-range header against Celta Vigo, which the Blaugrana ultimately lost 1-2.

Rounding off a visionary lofted pass from Sergio Busquets, the Argentine netted a free header to give Barcelona the lead. His 28th-minute strike at Camp Nou brought his tally up to 30 for the 20/21 league season, comfortably ahead of second-placed Karim Benzema. Lionel Messi's final goal for his childhood club ensured a record-eighth Pichichi Trophy for the talismanic figure.

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#3 Trophies with Barcelona for Lionel Messi

Leo Messi with the Golden Boy award in his league-winning debut season

First:

With a long list of accolades, Messi is the second most decorated player in the history of football. The majestic dribbler has a colossal 35 titles to his name at club level, with only Dani Alves surpassing the legend in terms of numbers.

His first taste of silverware in a Barcelona shirt came in the form of the 04/05 La Liga title, when the Catalan club romped to the 17th Spanish title in their illustrious history. Lionel Messi played a bit-part role that season, getting just 75 minutes of league action.

Still contracted to the B team, the then 17-year-old forward bagged his first professional goal in that campaign. Lionel Messi successfully cemented his position in the first team in the following years, going on to become the most important player in Barcelona's history.

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Athletic Club v FC Barcelona - Copa del Rey Final 2021

Last:

The 119th edition of Spain's primary football cup proved to be Lionel Messi's final trophy with the Catalan giants. As club captain, he valiantly led his team to their 31st Copa del Rey title, solidifying Barcelona's position at the top of the competition's all-time charts in the process.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner scored twice, including a wondergoal reminiscent of his Puskas-nominated strike of 2015, in a 4-0 rout of Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona were at their level best that night, holding off possession beautifully, all the while stringing in some progressive and bewitching passes.

Should we say Messi kinda felt his exit is going to happen, that was why he had to take a picture with each of the players with the Copa Del Rey trophy during the celebration. So that was like his final present to them 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xJPBVrT0KF

— E-dub ✊🏿 (@official_edub) August 7, 2021

The most decorated player in the club's history, Lionel Messi flawlessly carried out his responsibilities as captain. His era saw Barcelona lift a total of 35 trophies, taking their total tally from 61, before his debut, to a record-shattering 96 in just 17 years. A true legend of the game but a loyal servant to his boyhood club.

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