the day Lionel Messi debuted with Argentina and was sent off after 43 seconds (Thursday of ‘TBT’)
On this Thursday of ‘TBT’ of the World Cups, we remember the preparation match of the Argentine National Team against Hungary played on August 17, 2005, facing the World Cup in Germany 2006.
emulating Diego Armando Maradona (“El Pibe de Oro” also played his first game with the albiceleste against the Hungarians on February 27, 1977), Messi was about to live the most longed-for day of his football career up to that moment: go out to the field and defend the Argentine colors. However, fate had a bad move in store for him..
Coach Joseph Pekerman He gave entry to “La Pulga” at 63 minutes of the game in place of Lisandro López when Argentina won the game 2-1. Messi wore the number 18 on his shirt.
The fans received him with applause and even the Argentine narrators made the analogy and comparison of Maradona’s debut with that of Messi, excited to see “La Pulga” for the first time with the white and light blue colors on a pitch. The match was resumed and the former Barcelona player started putting pressure on the Hungarians immediately.
This was Maradona’s debut in 1977:
Like this lived the expulsion of Messi in his debut:
Not even a minute passed since “Lio” entered the field when the defender Vilmos Vanczak he tried to take the ball from behind and ended up receiving a “slap” by Messi; the Hungarian complained of a blow to the face and the referee Markus Merck stopped the play to show the Argentine a direct red card.
While Messi’s teammates complained to the referee about his drastic decision, local television showed a replay of the play in which, clearly, It can be seen that Lionel’s hand did not hit the rival’s face but part of the chin and neck. However, the damage was already done and Lionel Messi had to retire to the locker room without being able to believe what happened.
“Today that is yellow. Any slap or elbow, without intention, is yellow, but I don’t even touch it there “Messi said in an interview for a renowned Argentine media outlet in 2019 while reacting to the controversial move.
Messi admits that “many things” went through his head after the expulsion, including that they were not going to call him up again to the National Team: “I never come back here, they don’t call me anymore”he stated.
To this day, Lionel Messi has 90 goals for the Argentina National Team in 164 games played, reached a World Cup final in Brazil 2014 (runner-up against Germany) and won the Copa América 2021 (against Brazil). Starting in November, “La Pulga” and Argentina will seek to win the World Cup in Qatarthe first since 1986 when Maradona and company raised the trophy in Mexico.
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