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When Messi humiliated Zidane: Back to the Flea's first Clasico

In November 2005, Frank Rijkaard gambled on 18-year-old Leo Messi in the Bernabeu squad, contrary to expectations.

Ronaldinho was the main hero in the 0: 3 victory, but the Argentine justified the bet with a great game and cooking - and Zizu also had a hard time stopping him.

On Saturday he is already in Clasico number 45

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• Barcelona in football

• Lionel Messi

• Zindin Zidane

Michael Yochin

Friday, 09 April 2021, 15:00 Updated: 15:16

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On Saturday (22:00, Channel 50) Leo Messi will go up to Clásico number 45 in his life, and will equal the record for appearances in the important game in Spain which belongs to Sergio Ramos.

This will be another important chapter in the history of the historical struggle, and it's time to recall the first Flea Classico.

It was the only game against Zinedine Zidane, whom he miserable and humiliated on the grass at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It was a groundbreaking evening for him - the evening that established his status as a rising star on a global scale and significantly defined the continuation of his career.

So, taking an important part in the 0: 3 victory on the field of the sworn rival, Messi proved that he is winking at the stuff of champions.

It happened on November 19, 2005. Last season the Argentine boy made do with seven brief league appearances as a substitute, but the commotion around him began to develop at a dizzying pace in the summer.

In June, on his 18th birthday, Barcelona signed him on an improved contract until 2010, with a release clause of 150 million euros, in order to fend off courtship by the big teams from Italy, led by Juventus and Inter.

In September it became clear that this was no longer enough, and the management presented his agents with another new contract, which at least reportedly doubled his salary, extending its validity until 2014. It was a clear signal that Barça saw him as a potential superstar, but at the same time was accompanied by legal complications.

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Then he played another violin for the big star Ronaldinho.

Messi in the first Clasico (Photo: GettyImages)

The Flea only received Spanish citizenship in September, so he did not participate in the first rounds of the season, but some clubs decided to fight for his new status.

According to the rules, only three players outside the EU were allowed to be on the squad, and these squares were staffed at Camp Nou Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Rafa Marquez.

Javier Tabas, later president of the Spanish league who then served as legal adviser to Alabs, decided to do public relations for himself and claimed that Messi was not allowed to play at all until January, as he was not a citizen until the previous transfer window closed in August.

Deportivo La Coruna joined the lawsuit, and speculation that Real Madrid also acted vigorously behind the scenes to prevent his participation in the first Clasico of the season.

Catalonia's lawyers were able to prove their validity and dismiss the allegations, but the saga lasted for weeks and hampered preparations.

Until the visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Messi was included only once in the starting line-up in the league, in the 0: 3 home win over Osasuna in late October.

It was an important result after a disappointing season opener, and it allowed Frank Rijkaard's team to record a streak of four consecutive victories and reach the Clasico with a point advantage over Real that managed to record four losses that greatly undermined coach Vanderley Luxemburgo's status.

Barça developed the momentum with a solid lineup, in which Ludovic Julie was juggling on the right wing, so rumors of a willingness to throw Messi into the deep waters of Madrid were received with great skepticism.

Got a first taste of Messi as an actor.

Zidane in Real uniform (Photo: GettyImages)

In fact, Real also did not believe that they would see the flea in the starting lineup.

Take, for example, the post written in a popular Whites fan forum that resonated: "Rijkaard is a smart coach, and I'm 99 percent convinced he will not bet on Messi. Personally, I prefer him to start with him, because Mitchell Salgado and Roberto Carlos will threaten and eliminate him already. "In the first minute. He will be scared and disappear, like all the youngsters in the first performance in the Clasico. It is not easy - even the phenomenal Ronaldo failed in the first Clasico. In short, Messi will not be there."

Many commentators have expressed similar views, but Barcelona were convinced ahead of the game that the Argentine is actually very mature.

Sports director Chiki Bagirstein said in closed-door talks: "Messi will not be afraid to play at the Bernabeu. He always asks for the ball, and that will be true against Real as well."

Rijkaard decided to go all out with a particularly offensive lineup, and team him up with Ronaldinho and Lato.

Vice President Albert Wissens declared: "I am happy with the decision. It is a brave move, and an 18-year-old boy at the Bernabeu is not a trivial matter, but I am sure he will be able to give a great game."

Messi came up with the number 30 shirt, ready to write his name on the pages of history.

He was well aware of the risks, but Bagirstein was absolutely right.

There was no fear in his eyes.

He circled the experienced stars opposite, not seeing them from a shower.

In fact, they were frightened of him from the beginning.

Did not count the lagra and cooked slowly.

Messi (Photo: GettyImages)

In the 15th minute, Messi hit for the first time.

He burst through the center, not counting Ivan Lagra left helpless in the back, and slowly arranging the advantage gate.

Luxembourg, who came up with a rather puzzling lineup, placed Uruguayan Pablo Garcia as a lone central midfielder, and instructed the creative stars - David Beckham and Zidane - to pay close attention to the defense.

It did not work, and Zizu, who was clearly in charge of the left wing to back Roberto Carlos, had to deal unsuccessfully with the agility of Messi, 15 years his junior.

The Frenchman soon lost his temper, as he used to do as a high-frequency player.

He bluntly mowed down the cheeky boy twice in the first half, provoked riots, and came out just miraculously without absorbing tickets.

In general, that was half of Messi.

After assisting Cameroni, he scored a fine goal himself by bouncing for connections over the hands of Iker Casillas - but the goal was rightly disqualified for a small difference.

A few minutes later, the young star squeezed a big save from the holy Iker after another sweeping break, and after the break the Spanish goalkeeper stopped him again.

Xavi looked for him, Ronaldinho also pampered him with dedication, and Clasico first greatly strengthened Leo's self-confidence.

He showed everyone, but especially himself, that he is capable of transcending the greatest game of all.

He not only held out against Galacticus, but made fun of them and made them stumble upon him frequently.

Only then could he be arrested on the hypnotic evening.

There was a small and mischievous smile on his face when he was replaced by Andres Iniesta in the 69th minute.

Starred in a play at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldinho Vato (Photo: AP)

"Messi was decisive at the Bernabeu even though he is only 18. With dizzying speed, mesmerizing dribbling and well-developed senses near the goal, he is light years ahead of Robinho, and any comparison between them is ridiculous. At the Bernabeu premiere, he did not count Roberto Carlos, as Ronaldinho dismissed Salgado. "It was a sensational game, and the combination with Ronaldinho and Eto'o is fine. This trio tore Real to shreds," the newspaper Almondo Deportivo wrote.

On the other hand, Messi was not really the main star, and that too was in his favor.

It was a Clasico that will be remembered forever thanks to Ronaldinho, who was then on the roof of the world and provided one of the greatest games of his life.

The second half was all about the Brazilian magician, who scored a breathtaking double, including a particularly insane goal that made Real fans get to their feet and give him a standing ovation.

Therefore, Messi received a lot of praise in the media, but not the headlines, and it certainly worked in his favor.

It was the right dose.

It is impossible to know how his career would have developed if he had been crowned the man of the match already in the first Clasico of his life.

Gradual and measured progress is much more desirable, and Messi bought his place in the lineup at the Bernabeu.

He continued to play second fiddle to Ronaldinho until early March, scoring eight goals in all competitions, then being injured and finishing the season.

Barça raced to win the championship and the Champions League without him, but he felt a full partner in the great achievement, thanks in part to that performance at the Bernabeu.

The following season, in March 2007, it was "his" Clasico in which he scored a hat-trick in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Camp Nou, and since then it's all history - but he will never forget his first baptism of fire.

Zidane will not forget her either.

On Saturday they meet again.

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