Lionel Messi approaches Spain, but is called up to the national team
October 6, 2026 ·
In April 2004, José Pekerman succeeded in inviting Lionel Messi to the Argentina national team, blocking his move to join the Spanish national team.
Lionel Messi Approaches Spain, But Called Up By National Team
According to Varzesh3.
Background
Lionel Messi, who was still a teenager at that time, was considered an unknown talent. José Pekerman, Argentina's national team coach, was instrumental in ensuring Messi remained with Argentina, warding off threats from Spain who wanted to call him up. This decision became the foundation for Messi's brilliant career, both at club level with Barcelona and with the Argentine national team.
Why this is important
José Pekerman's decision to call Lionel Messi to the Argentina national team in 2004 was a turning point in his career. This move not only saved Messi from possibly joining the Spanish national team, but also paved the way for one of the greatest football careers in history. Messi then became an icon of Argentine and world football, making extraordinary achievements with the national team and Barcelona.
Main Points
- Lionel Messi Approaches Spain, But Called Up By National Team.
- In April 2004, José Pekerman succeeded in inviting Lionel Messi to the Argentina national team, blocking his move to join the Spanish national team.
- لئونل مِچی! نزدیک بود مسی تقدیم اسپانیا شود | ورزش سه.
In April 2004, José Pekerman, coach of the Argentine national team, made an important decision that changed the course of Lionel Messi's career. With persistence and sharp vision, Pekerman managed to convince the Argentine Football Federation to send a letter to Barcelona, requesting permission to call Messi to the Argentina U-20 national team. This was a crucial step, because at that time Messi was still considered a young player who was not yet widely known.
At that time, Messi was an almost unknown teenager, only his father, Jorge, and several coaches at Barcelona knew about his talent. Pekerman, who at that time served as sporting director at Leganés, made direct observations of Messi's game. He feels there is a serious threat from Spain, who could potentially invite Messi to their U-20 national team. By strict FIFA rules, if Messi plays for one country, he will not be able to move to another country in the future.
Realizing the importance of keeping Messi in Argentina, Pekerman asked the U-20 team coach, Hugo Tocalli, to immediately arrange a friendly match with an international referee. The aim is to submit the match form to FIFA, so that Spain cannot invite Messi before Argentina does. Tocalli accepted the request and asked Pekerman to convince Julio Grondona, the then president of the Argentine Football Federation.
Grondona eventually scheduled two friendlies against Paraguay, one in Asunción and another in Buenos Aires. This moment is similar to the start of Diego Maradona's career, where both soccer stars experienced spelling errors in their names on official documents. While the federation recorded Messi's name as 'Léonel Mêchi', the Clarín newspaper had previously spelled Maradona's name incorrectly.
Barcelona finally gave permission, and Messi joined the Argentina national team on 25 June 2004, the day after he celebrated his 17th birthday. In the match against Paraguay which took place on June 29, Argentina won a landslide victory 8-0. Messi came on as a substitute and managed to score the seventh goal and provide an assist for the fifth goal.
Pekerman then took Messi to the South American U-20 Championship in Colombia in 2005, where he showed extraordinary abilities. At the World Cup in the Netherlands in June of the same year, Messi won his first world title at the age of 18. Not long after, on 17 August, Messi made his return appearance for Argentina's senior team in Budapest, where he played in a friendly match against Hungary.
What happened next
With Messi having become an integral part of the Selección de Argentina, hopes for success in international tournaments are increasingly high. Pekerman, who has far-sightedness, showed how important it is to keep young talents like Messi in Argentina. This decision also reminds us of the importance of developing young players and support from the football federation in shaping the future of the national team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Lionel Messi in April 2004?
In April 2004, José Pekerman, coach of the Argentina national team, managed to convince the Argentine Football Federation to call Lionel Messi to the Argentina U-20 national team.
Who confirmed Messi's call-up to the Argentina national team?
José Pekerman confirmed Lionel Messi's call-up to the Argentina U-20 national team.
Why was Messi called up to the Argentina national team at that time?
Messi's call-up was made to prevent Spain from inviting him to their U-20 national team, because if Messi plays for one country, he cannot move to another country in the future.
What changes have been made to ensure Messi stays in Argentina?
José Pekerman asked the U-20 team coach, Hugo Tocalli, to arrange a friendly match so that Argentina could send the match form to FIFA before Spain.
What did Julio Grondona do regarding Messi's call-up?
Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine Football Federation at the time, scheduled two friendlies against Paraguay to ensure Messi could be called up.