Lionel Messi sends heartfelt message to Barcelona as Inter Miami star celebrates 'amazing' anniversary

Messi came on in the 80th minute of the October 2004 Derbi Barceloni, replacing Deco in the final knockings of the game at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Deco scored what proved to be the winning goal in the derby, netting in the ninth minute in a key victory on the way to Barcelona's eventual title win.

Sporting the No. 30 shirt, Messi found playing time limited in his debut season in the Barcelona first team as Rijkaard managed his game time accordingly. Indeed, Messi was restricted to just seven league appearances in the 2004/05 La Liga campaign with Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Henrik Larsson and Ludovic Giuly ahead of the forward in the pecking order.

However, that game proved to be the beginning of a scintillating career for the player, who'd go on to win numerous individual and team accolades during a star-studded 21-year career, to date. Messi proved an absolute revelation for Barcelona, with the high point from an individual perspective coming in the 2011/12 season where he scored 73 goals across 60 appearances for the Spanish giants.

The official La Liga account commemorated the date with a post on their official X account with a brief video of Messi replacing Deco in the second half.

"The beginning of the LEGEND," the post started. "On this day in 2004, wearing the No. 30 on his back, Leo Messi made his debut in LALIGA EA SPORTS."

Messi wore the No. 30 shirt for two seasons, before swapping that for the No. 19 shirt ahead of the 2005/06 season. Three years later, and Messi was handed the iconic No. 10 shirt, a number that has remained synonymous with the mercurial Argentine, bar a brief stint with 30 during his time with PSG.

After leaving Barcelona in 2021 despite the best efforts of both parties to extend their time together, Messi spent two years with PSG and then moved to MLS side Inter Miami in 2023.

And the anniversary wasn't lost on Messi, who took to his official Instagram account to mark the occasion. As the forward gears up for a return to domestic duties following the international break, Messi posted an image of himself in the No. 30 for Barcelona with the caption: "21 years already... incredible"

Messi will hope to make further history with Inter Miami this season and is looking to inspire the MLS side to victory against Nashville this weekend. The Herons currently sit third in Eastern Conference, four points behind leaders Philadelphia Union.

The 38-year-old is yet to lift the MLS Cup with Inter Miami having won the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters' Shield in 2024. Featuring former Barcelona quartet Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, as well as fellow 2022 World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul, Inter Miami certainly have a great chance of securing domestic glory under Javier Mascherano this season.

Since their inception in 2018, Inter Miami are yet to win the MLS Cup despite several high-profile additions over the years. As well as the current former Barcelona quartet, Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi have also sported the Inter shirt in their seven-year existence.

Messi has proven a driving force in their bid to secure the MLS Cup having scored 26 goals and provided 15 assists in MLS this season, those ranking first and second, respectively, across both the Eastern and Western Conference. Suarez, Busquets and Alba have also played their part as the Herons look to secure the Major League Soccer's top piece of silverware in what will be the final season for both Busquets and Alba.

The Spanish pair have announced they will call time on their respective careers at the end of the current MLS season and have proven key players for both club and country during their time for Barcelona and Spain. Busquets was vital as Spain won the World Cup in 2010, featuring in all seven matches on their way to glory, while the midfielder and Alba played all six games in La Roja's Euro 2012 triumph.