Date: March 17–22, 2005Setting: Argentina – Ezeiza Training Complex (Buenos Aires)Mood: Homecoming, uncertainty, new beginnings
The plane touched down in Buenos Aires under a burning sky.
Messi stepped off wearing his Barcelona track suit. For once, there were no screaming fans at the terminal. No reporters. No banners.
Back in Spain, they chanted his name.
Here?
He was just the kid who left.
March 18 – First Steps at Ezeiza
The Argentina U-20 squad trained at the AFA's national complex in Ezeiza, a stretch of pristine grass and thin shadows. Trees lined the edge of the fields. Cameras were absent.
Coach Hugo Tocalli greeted Messi with a handshake. Firm, but not warm.
"Europe is not the same as South America, chico," Tocalli said."Here, you earn respect. Nothing is given."
Messi nodded.
He'd expected it.
The players were a mix of domestic stars — kids from Boca, River, Independiente. A few stared at him with narrowed eyes.He was already sponsored. Already famous.But not yet one of them.
March 19 – Silent Football
Training was technical. Hard. Intense.
No smiles. No small talk.
Messi stayed quiet. Let his feet speak.
In the first rondo drill, he nutmegged two teammates. The circle burst into laughter.
In a 5v5 game, he danced through three defenders and finished low.
That night, three players knocked on his door and asked if he wanted to play cards. He didn't win.
But he was in.
March 20 – The Tactical Session
Coach Tocalli watched Messi closely.
"You play like someone who's always seen the ending," the coach told him."But you've never played with us before. You don't know our rhythm."
Messi shrugged.
"Then show me your rhythm. I'll match it."
Later in the session, Messi set up three goals in seven minutes during a practice match.
One of the assistants whispered,
"He might be better than Aimar was at 17."
Tocalli didn't respond.
But he wrote Messi on the lineup board for the practice match against Vélez youth the next day.
March 21 – Against Vélez
The U-20s played against a second-division reserve team that day.Messi started on the right wing.
Minute 8 — He picked the ball up, drove forward, passed inside. Ran wide. Got it back. Shot.Goal.
Minute 21 — Dribbled into the box, dragged two men, then slipped a through ball between legs.Assist.
Minute 39 — Won a free kick. Stepped up. Curled it into the top corner.
Final Score: Argentina U-20 4–1 Vélez YouthMessi: 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 foul drawn
No one questioned him after that.
March 22 – The Call from Pekerman
José Pékerman, the senior national team manager, arrived at Ezeiza to observe.
He sat with Tocalli and watched from the shadows.
"He's not ready for Germany," Tocalli said. "But… he might be soon."
After the session, Messi was called into the small office near the pitch.
Pékerman stood there. Smiling gently.
"You made us proud in Spain," he said."Now make us proud here."
Messi shook his hand. No words.
Notebook Entry – March 22, 2005
Anto,I'm back in Argentina, but I don't feel like I'm home.The fields are different. The air. The eyes on me.But when I touched the ball today, the silence returned. That good kind of silence. The one where it's just me and the game.They say I'm in the U-20 World Cup squad now. Maybe even closer to the senior team.I'm not rushing. I'm just… following the ball.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Updated Stats (as of March 22, 2005)
Season (Club):
Matches: 33
Goals: 22
Assists: 26
Free Kick Goals (Match): 1
Free Kick Goals (Training): 15
Dribbles Completed: 168
Fouls Suffered: 80
Training Matches (U-20 Argentina):
Matches: 2
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
Dribbles Completed: 15
Minutes Played: 120
Career Totals (Club + Country):
Matches: 35 (33 Club + 2 U20)
Goals: 25
Assists: 28
Dribbles Completed: 183
National Team Caps (Senior): 0
National Team Goals: 0
World Football News – March 22
Premier League: Chelsea confirm league lead with dominant win over Everton.
Serie A: AC Milan's Kaka continues impressive season.
La Liga: Ronaldinho praises Messi in interview: "He makes things I dreamt of doing look easy."
South America: Argentina U-20 World Cup training squad finalized. Messi included. Questions about whether he might be fast-tracked to the senior Copa América team.