Lionel Messi made his debut for Barcelona against city rivals Espanyol on October 16, 2004 at just 17 years and 114 days.
But it was against Albacete that he scored his first goal on May 1, 2005. He was mobbed by his teammates at Camp Nou, with Carles Puyol, Rafael Marquez and Giovanni van Bronckhorst among the first to congratulate him.
Barcelona won the Liga title that season, although the young Messi only played a minor role, with the likes of Ronaldinho ahead of him in coach Frank Rijkaard’s pecking order.
