Twenty years after his first World Cup goal, Messi inspires Argentina again

The upcoming 2026 World Cup match between Argentina and Algeria will hold special significance as it marks the 20th anniversary of Lionel Messi's first goal in a World Cup. On June 16, 2006, a then 18-year-old Messi, wearing the number 19 jersey, entered the game against Serbia and Montenegro as a substitute and scored Argentina's sixth goal in a resounding 6-0 victory.

Messi's World Cup debut came under coach José Pekerman in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. He replaced Maximiliano Rodríguez, who had already scored twice in the match. Diego Maradona, a legendary figure in Argentine football, was present in the stands, witnessing the young talent's first steps on the World Cup stage.

At the time of Messi's entry in the 75th minute, Argentina was already leading comfortably. However, Messi quickly made his mark. He assisted Hernán Crespo's goal in the 78th minute before scoring his own debut World Cup goal in the 88th minute. The goal was a display of his skill, involving a quick combination with Carlos Tévez and a precise finish with his right foot.

Reflecting on that moment years later, Messi expressed his dream of playing a full match and scoring in a World Cup, emphasizing the joy derived from the fans' happiness. "When one dreams, one dreams big," he stated.

That 2006 tournament, though ending in quarter-final elimination for Argentina, marked the beginning of the "Messi era." Since then, his career has been intrinsically linked with the fortunes of the national team, leading them to numerous finals and ultimately to a World Cup victory in 2022.