Turning Pro
In 2003, at the age of 16, Messi had his initial outing for Barcelona's first team during a friendly match against Porto. His coaches were immediately impressed by his performance, leading them to offer him a professional contract in February 2004.
Following a season with the B team, Messi went on to make his competitive league debut for the first team in 2005, under the guidance of coach Frank Rijkaard. Rijkaard positioned him on the right wing, a role in which Messi thrived. However, as he began to establish himself as Barcelona's promising young talent, a tragic event unfolded in his homeland of Argentina.
