fbpx
Submit Guest Article
Join Our Team
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Friday, May 9, 2025
Barça Buzz
Advertisement
  • Home
  • BarcaBuzz TV
    • BB Radio
  • Barça News
    • Transfer Rumors
  • Barça History
    • The Cruyff Story
    • Lionel Messi quotes
    • Xavi Quotes
    • Iniesta Quotes
  • La Masia
  • Merchandise
  • Community
    • Barça Travel
    • Barca songs
    • Gallery
    • Trivia
  • Analysis
  • Home
  • BarcaBuzz TV
    • BB Radio
  • Barça News
    • Transfer Rumors
  • Barça History
    • The Cruyff Story
    • Lionel Messi quotes
    • Xavi Quotes
    • Iniesta Quotes
  • La Masia
  • Merchandise
  • Community
    • Barça Travel
    • Barca songs
    • Gallery
    • Trivia
  • Analysis
No Result
View All Result
Barça Buzz
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • BarcaBuzz TV
  • Barça News
  • Barça History
  • La Masia
  • Merchandise
  • Community
  • Analysis
Home Barça History

Do Dragão: A Monument to Messi’s Beginning

Robert Dominguez by Robert Dominguez
4th October 2023
in Barça History
0
0
Do Dragão: A Monument to Messi’s Beginning
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatApp

In the annals of football history, certain stadiums are forever entwined with the greatest players’ illustrious careers. Estádio Do Dragão, home to FC Porto, holds such a distinction, and for a very special reason – it’s where a teenage sensation named Lionel Messi embarked on his journey to football immortality.

The date was November 16, 2003, a day that would etch itself into the collective memory of football fans worldwide. FC Barcelona was invited to partake in a friendly match, a celebration of the inauguration of the new 50,000-seat Estádio Do Dragão, the replacement for the old Estádio das Antas. Porto would go on to win the game 2-0, but history had its eyes on something far more remarkable.

With only 15 minutes remaining in the match, Barcelona’s coach at the time, Frank Rijkaard, made a decision that would change football forever. He summoned a promising teenager named Lionel Messi from the bench, eager to witness the young Argentine’s skills in action. “I was very nervous,” Messi later admitted, “but I really fancied going out to play for a bit.”

An early signs of what was coming

@FCBarcelona

With that substitution, history unfolded before our eyes. Messi took to the field, sporting the number 14 shirt – chosen not for superstition, but simply because it was available. His impact was immediate. Within moments, Messi found himself one-on-one with Porto’s goalkeeper, Nuno, who thwarted his first attempt. Shortly after, he won the ball in a position where a shot seemed inevitable, but he instead opted for a pass, which unfortunately found no takers.

While a quarter-hour on the pitch might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, those brief moments were enough to discern that Messi was no ordinary player. His extraordinary skills were already evident, even if no one could have fathomed the unparalleled greatness that awaited him. He was destined to be more than just a great player; he was destined to be a legend – a legend on par with the likes of Pele, Cruyff, and Maradona. Many would even argue that he transcended them all to become the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T).

Returning to the Scene of Greatness

Fast forward nearly two decades, and FC Barcelona is once again heading to Estádio Do Dragão. The setting has changed, the players have come and gone, but the memory of that chilly November night in 2003 still lingers in the air. Messi’s debut was the spark that ignited a footballing phenomenon. It was the genesis of a legend whose name would resonate in every corner of the globe.

As Barcelona prepares to step onto that hallowed ground once more, the echoes of Messi’s debut reverberate. Do Dragão is not merely a stadium; it’s a living monument to the birth of a footballing demigod. It’s where a young boy from Rosario, Argentina, announced himself to the world. It’s where the journey of a footballing icon commenced – a journey filled with records, accolades, and breathtaking moments.

Estádio Do Dragão isn’t just a place to play football; it’s a shrine for those who understand the profound significance of that historic night. It’s where Messi’s story began, and where the world first glimpsed the genius that would grace the beautiful game for years to come.

So, as FC Barcelona steps onto the pitch at Do Dragão once more, it’s more than just another match. It’s a pilgrimage to a sacred site, a tribute to the genesis of greatness. It’s a reminder that legends are born in moments, and in that moment in 2003, Lionel Messi was born.

Robert Dominguez
Robert Dominguez

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related


Discover more from Barça Buzz

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Tags: Estádio Do DragãoFC BarcelonaFootball HistoryLionel Messi
Robert Dominguez

Robert Dominguez

Related Posts

5 Players Who Played for Both Barcelona and Benfica
Barça History

5 Players Who Played for Both Barcelona and Benfica

4th March 2025
RIP César Luis Menotti – ‘El Flaco’
Barça History

RIP César Luis Menotti – ‘El Flaco’

5th May 2024
The Kidnapping of Quini : Story of Triumph, Tragedy and Forgiveness
Barça History

The Kidnapping of Quini : Story of Triumph, Tragedy and Forgiveness

25th March 2024
30 Years On : Reliving the Dream Team ‘Manita’ Over Madrid
Barça History

30 Years On : Reliving the Dream Team ‘Manita’ Over Madrid

8th January 2024
Barça Mourns the Loss of the Legendary Terry Venables
Barça History

Barça Mourns the Loss of the Legendary Terry Venables

26th November 2023
Worst injuries ever in FC Barcelona
Barça History

Worst injuries ever in FC Barcelona

21st November 2023
Load More
Next Post
Match Review : Porto vs Barcelona (0-1)

Match Review : Porto vs Barcelona (0-1)

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

La Liga Table

Standings provided by Sofascore

Subscribe to BarcaBuzz

Enter your email address and receive updates for new article by email.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
barca songs

The Barca songs – Time to learn (With English Subtitles)

4th May 2023
What really happened between Leo Messi and Gerard Pique?

What really happened between Leo Messi and Gerard Pique?

6th November 2022
Former La Masia players in Europe – Part 1

Former La Masia players in Europe – Part 1

24th June 2023
What’s true and What’s not about the FC Barcelona financial status

What’s true and What’s not about the FC Barcelona financial status

11th July 2022

Joan Laporta : “I turned down a 250 million offer for young Leo Messi”

6
signing pjanic makes sense?

Opinion : Is signing Miralem Pjanic makes sense after all?

5
xavi announces leaving

TBT : May 21 – The day Xavi announced that he will leave Barcelona

5
pep

TBT : Appointing Pep Guardiola, against all odds

5
From Chaos to Clásico: Barça’s Copa Dream Lives On

Match Preview : Inter Milan VS Barça – UCL Semi Final 2nd Leg

6th May 2025
Marcus Thuram -The Barça Kid Who Came Back to Haunt Us

Marcus Thuram -The Barça Kid Who Came Back to Haunt Us

5th May 2025
Match Review : Valladolid vs Barcelona (1-2)

Match Review : Valladolid vs Barcelona (1-2)

3rd May 2025
Match Preview – Real Valladolid VS Barça

Match Preview – Real Valladolid VS Barça

3rd May 2025

BB Radio

Recommended

From Chaos to Clásico: Barça’s Copa Dream Lives On

Match Preview : Inter Milan VS Barça – UCL Semi Final 2nd Leg

6th May 2025
Marcus Thuram -The Barça Kid Who Came Back to Haunt Us

Marcus Thuram -The Barça Kid Who Came Back to Haunt Us

5th May 2025
Match Review : Valladolid vs Barcelona (1-2)

Match Review : Valladolid vs Barcelona (1-2)

3rd May 2025
Match Preview – Real Valladolid VS Barça

Match Preview – Real Valladolid VS Barça

3rd May 2025
uh07p1j9l95kqz46hg39xy0953z15ia81ybp6tb8x19
    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to refresh it.
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok

About Us

An independent source of information about FC Barcelona. We are here to bring you the latest news and analyze everything related to our beloved team. Força Barça!

Categories

  • Analysis
  • Barça Basket
  • Barça Femeni
  • Barça History
  • Barça News
  • Barça Travel
  • La Masia
  • Profiles
  • Transfer Rumors

Archives

© 2022 Barcabuzz - Sharing what's Buzzing with Barça.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • BarcaBuzz TV
    • BB Radio
  • Barça News
    • Transfer Rumors
  • Barça History
    • The Cruyff Story
    • Lionel Messi quotes
    • Xavi Quotes
    • Iniesta Quotes
  • La Masia
  • Merchandise
  • Community
    • Barça Travel
    • Barca songs
    • Gallery
    • Trivia
  • Analysis

© 2022 Barcabuzz - Sharing what's Buzzing with Barça.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Discover more from Barça Buzz

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

%d