Barcelona

Watch previously unseen footage of Lionel Messi bossing with Barca's U-16 team

Published Apr. 1, 2017 8:00 a.m. ET

Alex Dowd

Barcelona released some never-before-seen video of superstar Lionel Messi playing in their youth ranks before he became the Messi we know today. It comes as little surprise, but Messi appeared to be head and shoulders above his contemporaries, despite his diminutive size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li9c7GCo6PM

The shaggy-haired Messi is seen darting around the pitch showing flashes of the potential he'd soon unlock. The footage shown is from the 2002/03 season, with a raw (but still skillful) Messi putting his technical and finishing prowess on display.

That particular season stands out as it was the only campaign during his time La Masia that Messi started and finished a season on the same team. In the following season, Messi progressed all the way from the U-17 team to Barcelona's B team. He even earned his debut with the first team in 2003, coming on in the 75th minute in a friendly against Porto in November.

Now, he's the face of Barcelona and widely regarded as the best player to ever set foot on the field. They grow up so fast, don't they?

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