sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
QUIZ: Can you name the Barcelona stars who played in Lionel Messi's first La Liga start?
Home>Football
Updated 12:39 4 Apr 2023 GMT+1Published 15:50 3 Apr 2023 GMT+1

QUIZ: Can you name the Barcelona stars who played in Lionel Messi's first La Liga start?

Challenge your memory by seeing if you can name the team who played in Messi's first La Liga start.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

At 18 years of age, Lionel Messi made his first La Liga start for Barcelona against Osasuna.

And now, 18 years later, he may be on the verge of a sensational return to Camp Nou.

But as the world waits to see the Argentina legend's next move - which is surely not in Paris, after he was booed by PSG fans during their home defeat to Lyon - thoughts turn to where it all began in the Catalan capital.

We've created a special quiz which will test your knowledge - and memory - of when Messi was no more than an emerging talent on the world stage.

His first start for Barcelona was a long time coming, especially as he had made his league debut over a year earlier, against rivals Espanyol.

Advert

There was to be no goal for Messi that day, but Camp Nou got their first glimpse of a future footballing icon playing his first full match for Barcelona.

Back then, journalists, players, managers tipped the teenage Messi to be a future great. There were, of course, the comparisons to Diego Maradona.

On October 22, 2005, he took the next step of his journey to football stardom. The silky dribbling, the gliding across the pitch, the movement - three elements that have made Messi so incredibly good - were all on show. He even hit the crossbar with a bullet header in the first half.

Looking forward to the now 35-year-old's potential return to Barca, we are looking back at the forward’s first start at the club, and have compiled a special SPORTbible quiz to test your knowledge of that day.

Can you name each player that was named in the starting XI by Barca boss Frank Rijkaard?

We're looking for surnames only - and Messi is already provided of course.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Barcelona, La Liga, Lionel Messi, Quizzes, Football Quiz

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Recommended reads

F1 and F3 trainer reveals gruelling physical and mental work drivers must do for each race ahead of British GPGettyDavid Croft proposes new Olympic sport with drivers from 'around the world' ahead of British GPGetty'Mo Salah owes me money!' - Micah Richards makes claim about Egypt icon 11 years on from gesture GettyThierry Henry on his ‘big brother’ France teammate, biggest influence and the discipline that defines himGetty Images

Advert

  • QUIZ: Can you name every Champions League winner?
  • Antoine Griezmann Snubs Lionel Messi as He Names Best La Liga Player Ever
  • The La Liga 1:1 rule that allows Barcelona to spend more than any year since Lionel Messi left
  • Marcus Rashford achieves feat last done 41 years ago as Barcelona win La Liga

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Man Utd 'line up' surprise move for Chelsea star after Mateus Fernandes joins Spurs

    United missed out on Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham, and are now set to approach their London rivals over a transfer.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Federico Valverde 'transfer listed' as Man Utd handed 'genius' swap deal possibility

    The Real Madrid midfielder continues to be linked with a move away from the La Liga giants.

    Football
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Why Ederson's transfer to Manchester United still hasn't been made official

    Ederson still isn't a Manchester United player

    Football
  • Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Paraguay goalkeeper accuses Kylian Mbappé of 'disrespectful' act after France World Cup clash

    Mbappé scored from the penalty spot to send France to the quarter-finals against Morocco.

    Football