It's been 20 years since Messi's first goal for FC Barcelona: Do you remember it?

May 1st is a historic date for Barcelona fans and one of its most illustrious sons: Lionel Messi. On a day like today, exactly 20 years ago, the Argentine star scored his first official goal with the first team culé, marking the beginning of a golden era for the Catalan side.

On May 1st, 2005, during matchday 34 of LaLiga 2004/05, a young Leo Messi, just 17 years and 10 months old, scored his first goal as a Barça player in a match against Albacete at Camp Nou. That goal would be the first of 672 official goals he would score for the Blaugrana throughout 17 seasons (2004–2021), becoming the club’s all-time top scorer, assist provider, and appearance leader.

Leo Messi's first goal for Barcelona: an unforgettable strike

'La Pulga' came on in the 88th minute, replacing Samuel Eto’o. Just three minutes later, Ronaldinho set him up with a lofted pass over the defensive line, and the Rosario-born forward finished with an elegant left-footed chip over goalkeeper Raúl Valbuena, sparking euphoria in the stadium. The goal was so memorable that 'Dinho' celebrated by lifting Messi onto his shoulders — an image that became iconic.

Interestingly, just before the valid goal, Messi had already scored a nearly identical one, again assisted by Ronaldinho and again with a chip. However, it was disallowed for offside. That first disallowed roar was just a preview of what was to come: a legendary career filled with magic, goals, and titles.

The Messi era: 17 years of glory at FC Barcelona

The goal against Albacete was the starting point of one of the most glorious eras in modern football. Messi played for FC Barcelona until the 2020/21 season, and during that time, he won:

• 📌 10 LaLiga titles
• 📌 7 Copa del Rey titles
• 📌 8 Spanish Super Cups
• 📌 4 Champions Leagues
• 📌 3 UEFA Super Cups
• 📌 3 FIFA Club World Cups

In addition to all the team trophies, Messi earned countless individual awards, including 7 Ballon d'Ors during his time as a Blaugrana.

An eternal legacy

Leo Messi’s first goal was not only the beginning of his scoring tally but also the start of an unforgettable era for the club and its fans. Today, 20 years later, ‘La Pulga’s’ legacy at FC Barcelona remains more alive than ever.