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 11:45 9 Jul 2026 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: La Liga, Lionel Messi, Quizzes, FC Barcelona

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

Luke Riley makes bold prediction ahead of blockbuster fight on Conor McGregor v Max Holloway cardGetty ImagesForget Conor McGregor - Lone'er Kavanagh is the UFC star you should be watching this weekendGetty ImagesF1 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

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
10 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    White House say whether Argentina players should receive FIFA punishment for Falklands display

    Argentina have faced intense criticism from all angles for their actions after beating England in the World Cup semi-finals.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    10 hours ago

    Mo Salah's agent reveals real truth behind Besiktas transfer after 'done deal' claims

    Mohamed Salah's agent has broken silence after it was claimed that the forward is joining Besiktas.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    What happened when four players were tied for the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup

    Thomas Muller, David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlan scored five goals at the World Cup in South Africa.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    Everything you need to know about the World Cup third-place play-off

    England will take on France in the bronze medal match.

    Football
  • Antoine Griezmann Snubs Lionel Messi as He Names Best La Liga Player Ever
  • Barcelona agree £24.7m deal that could prove to be bargain of the summer
  • Marcus Rashford achieves feat last done 41 years ago as Barcelona win La Liga
  • The La Liga 1:1 rule that allows Barcelona to spend more than any year since Lionel Messi left