Messi’s New Documentary Will Reveal a Major Secret
Lionel Messi came very close to playing for the Spain national team. Although it now seems impossible to imagine the World Cup champion wearing any jersey other than Argentina’s, the reality is that in 2004 the Spanish Football Federation closely followed the young Barcelona talent while he was still practically unknown in his home country.
The new documentary “Messi: The Forgotten Tape” will reveal the story behind one of the most important decisions in the Argentine star’s career and how a single video completely changed his international future.
The Tape That Changed History
At the time, Messi was shining in the youth ranks of Barcelona, and Spain was trying to convince him to play for its youth national teams. Meanwhile, in Argentina, there were still doubts surrounding the Rosario-born footballer, who had even been overlooked in several youth team call-ups.
The story took an unexpected turn thanks to a Barça TV journalist who compiled the young forward’s best plays onto a tape. That footage was sent to Argentina and quickly caught the attention of the country’s youth national team officials, who realized the enormous mistake they could make if they allowed Messi to slip away.
After recognizing the player’s potential, the Argentine Football Association reacted immediately. Officials organized two urgent friendly matches with the sole purpose of securing Messi for La Albiceleste before Spain could make a definitive move.
The Debut That Secured His Future With Argentina
His debut took place at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Buenos Aires against Paraguay. The young attacker delivered a spectacular performance, scoring one goal and providing two assists, making it clear that he was destined to become the next great figure in Argentine football.
The documentary will also reveal the exact moment when Messi ultimately decided his international future. Argentina had previously left him out of the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup, while Spain continued to push harder to secure his sporting nationality. However, after a meeting involving Julio Grondona, José Pekerman, and Hugo Tocalli, the Argentine federation decided to act quickly to avoid losing him.
Although Messi rejected Spain’s proposals on several occasions because he dreamed of representing Argentina, the documentary reveals there was an emotional breaking point after feeling ignored by the youth national teams. In the end, the direct intervention of federation officials proved crucial in changing football history forever.
