A home on this side of the world

An 18 year old Messi comes off the bench for his Argentina debut and is sent off barely a minute later. The most unlikely start to the greatest international career ever.

Messi’s first senior goal in the albiceleste, the first of a record breaking tally.

He scores against Serbia and Montenegro in a 6 to 0 win, becoming Argentina’s youngest ever World Cup goalscorer.

A 20 year old Messi plays in Australia for the first time in front of more than 70,000 fans. He hits the post from long range, then his free kick sets up Martín Demichelis for the only goal in a 1 to 0 win over the Socceroos.

The two greatest number 10s in Argentina’s history, together. Maradona names Messi as his heir and builds the team around him through to the 2010 World Cup.

Messi leads Argentina out as permanent captain for the first time, in front of a huge crowd in Kolkata. Argentina win 1 to 0.

Captain Messi scores his first international hat-trick in a 3 to 1 win.

Argentina fall 1 to 0 in extra time. Messi is named Player of the Tournament (Golden Ball).

Two finals lost to Chile on penalties. After 2016 Messi announces his international retirement, then reverses it weeks later after a nation begs him to come back.

Messi passes Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina’s record goalscorer.

Messi returns to Melbourne as more than 95,000 fans pack the MCG to watch Argentina beat Brazil 1 to 0.

In the 1000th game of his career, Messi scores his first ever World Cup knockout goal as Argentina beat the Socceroos 2 to 1.

Messi scores after just 79 seconds against Australia, the fastest goal of his career, in a 2 to 0 win.

At 39, in a record sixth World Cup, Messi leads Argentina all the way to another World Cup final, the third of his career. One last tournament run for the captain, played in front of fans who crossed the world to see him.