Messi: Professional Career Internationally

Professional Career Internationally

(Phase: 3)

He debuted for Argentina in June 2004 played in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay. In 2005, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands being a part of a team and won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe scoring in the last four of Argentina's matches and netting a total of six for the contest.

On 17 August 2005, He made his full international debut against Hungary at the age of 18. Though he was substituted on during the 63rd minute, was sent off on the 65th minute because the referee. Markus Merk, found that he had head butted defender Vilmos Vanczak, who was towing Messi's shirt. The decision was controversial and Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-planned. Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 World Cup qualifier away defeating Paraguay. Ahead of the match, he had said that this is a re-debut.

In a World Cup Qualifier against Venezuela on 28 March 2009, Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina. This match was the first official match for Diego Maradona as the Argentina manager and won the match 4–0 with Messi opening the scoring.

World Cup 2006

Being injured from playing for two months at the end of the 2005–06 seasons, Messi jeopardized his presence in the 2006 World Cup. Nevertheless, Messi was selected in the Argentina squad for the tournament on 15 May 2006 and also played in the final match before the World Cup against the Argentine U-20 team for 15 minutes and a friendly match against Angola from the 64th minute. He witnessed Argentina’s opening match victory against Ivory Coast from the substitute's bench. Messi In the next match against Serbia, became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute for Maxi Rodriguez in the 74th minute. He assisted Hernan Crespo’s goal within few minutes of entering the game. He also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory and made him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup. Messi started in Argentina's following 0–0 draw against the Netherlands and in the following game against Mexico; he came on as a replacement in the 84th minute, with the score fixed at 1–1. He became visible to score a goal, but it was lined offside with Argentina needing a late goal in extra time to proceed. Coach José Pekerman left Messi on the counter during the quarter-final match against Germany, which they mislaid 4–2 on a penalty shootout.

to be continued.........................