There was a moment when Lionel Messi came remarkably close to playing for Spain.
In 2003, the Spanish Football Federation was preparing its preliminary squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the 15-year-old Barcelona academy player was already on the list alongside future stars such as Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué. Messi's talent was becoming impossible to ignore, but there were two problems. The first was that he had not yet obtained Spanish citizenship, although everyone believed that issue could eventually be resolved. The second proved far more important. When Spain approached Jorge Messi with an official proposal for his son to represent La Roja, Lionel's father refused without hesitation. He also convinced his son to do the same. Jorge's view was simple: if you are born in a country, that is the country you should represent, even if you have to wait a little longer for the opportunity.
Ironically, Argentina had almost overlooked the player who would later become its greatest footballer. Messi had always been regarded as an outstanding talent at Newell's Old Boys, but nobody believed he would change the history of the sport. The club was unable to finance treatment for his growth hormone deficiency and allowed him to leave for Barcelona at the age of 13. In Spain, his medical problems disappeared, his development accelerated, and he continued scoring goals at every level. A call-up to Spain's youth teams, where many of his Barcelona teammates were already playing, seemed like the natural next step.
The only reason that never happened was Jorge Messi's persistence. He repeatedly sent videos of Lionel's performances to coaches and officials in Argentina, urging them to take notice before it was too late. Eventually, José Pékerman, who had previously managed Argentina's U-20 team and was working within the Argentine Football Association, responded. Realising the urgency of the situation, he pushed U-17 coach Hugo Tocalli to call Messi into the squad. Tocalli initially resisted because the team was already preparing for the World Cup, but legendary AFA president Julio Grondona stepped in and insisted.
Argentina's solution was both simple and brilliant. The federation quickly organised a friendly against Paraguay in June 2004 for one key reason: to get Messi into an official Argentina squad before Spain completed the process. Pékerman later explained just how close they were to losing him. "The documents for him to play for Spain were already prepared. But Leo's side kept delaying the process. We had to act quickly. I told Tocalli that I didn't need him for an official tournament if he didn't think Messi was ready. Just let him play one friendly. The federation would register him with FIFA, and after that Spain would never get him."
Five days after his 17th birthday, Messi came off the bench against Paraguay and scored. Although it was only a friendly, it was officially recognised by FIFA, making Argentina's claim significantly stronger and effectively ending Spain's hopes of convincing him to switch allegiances.
The following year Messi was already one of the stars of Argentina's U-20 side at the FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. In a twist of fate, Argentina faced Spain in the quarter-finals, where Messi came up against several of his Barcelona teammates, including Fàbregas, David Silva and Fernando Llorente. Alberto Zapater scored for Spain, but Argentina won comfortably 3-1, with Messi getting on the scoresheet. He also scored in the final, finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals and led Argentina to the world title.
Messi eventually received Spanish citizenship in 2005, but by then his decision had long been made. Looking back years later, he admitted that representing Spain had genuinely been an option, but never one he truly wanted. "At one point playing for Spain became possible because I was already at Barcelona, and that's normal for many young players. But I'm Argentine and I always wanted to play for Argentina. I love my country and I only feel the colours of my national team. Looking back now, I don't think I would ever have chosen Spain. They treated me very well there, but we must never forget our roots. It breaks your heart, but colours never change."
Former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque later confirmed how determined the Spanish federation had been to persuade Messi. "Messi would have made Spain stronger. I know the federation did everything possible and tried many times to convince him, but Lionel always refused because he wanted to play for his country. If he had played for Spain, we certainly wouldn't have been weaker — only stronger. Messi is unique. Working with him for Spain would have been a dream."
Now, 22 years after that hastily arranged friendly against Paraguay, Messi is preparing to face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Looking at everything he has achieved in Argentina's colours, it is difficult to imagine that he has ever regretted the decision he made as a teenager. Had Jorge Messi accepted Spain's offer back in 2003, football history might have unfolded very differently.
Published by Patrick Jane
19.07.2026