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

'I wanted to give back to the sport that gave me everything' - Ashley Cole is finding himself in first manager jobGettyAn interview with Ben Stokes: 'English cricket doesn't lack talent... there are quite a few names'Getty ImagesMichael Bisping suggests radical eye poke rule change ahead of Tom Aspinall comebackGetty ImagesAndrea Pirlo interview: 'Football has changed and unfortunately we've been left behind' Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

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

    Man Utd among frontrunners for £100m star in fierce three-club Premier League transfer shootout

    United have already agreed to sign Ederson from Atalanta in a £35million deal.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Arsenal 'make approach' for PSG star as battle with Barcelona begins

    The Gunners are working on their summer transfer plans with a view to retaining the Premier League title

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Iran issue furious statement against US days before World Cup opener

    The Middle Eastern nation will face Egypt, New Zealand and Belgium in Group G.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Liverpool and Man Utd move for 'wonderkid' hijacked by European giants despite 'discussions' on transfer

    Bitter rivals set to go head-to-head for talented youngster but a third club has thrown doubt on a Premier League move

    Football
  • The La Liga 1:1 rule that allows Barcelona to spend more than any year since Lionel Messi left
  • Cristiano Ronaldo's response after former Barcelona star claims he was forced to say Lionel Messi was better
  • QUIZ: Can you name every Champions League winner?
  • Antoine Griezmann Snubs Lionel Messi as He Names Best La Liga Player Ever