(VIDEO) This is Where It All Started for Messi and Argentina

At one point in history, Lionel Messi was relatively unknown and far from the Argentine football scene. His debut with the Argentina national team was surprising, considering how distant he seemed from the spotlight at that time.

Messi’s Debut Against Paraguay

The now World Cup champion started on the bench during his first match with the Argentina national team. He came on as a substitute for Ezequiel Lavezzi in the second half of this friendly match.

Messi made his debut with Argentina in the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona in Buenos Aires, playing for the U-20 team in a friendly against Paraguay’s U-22 side.

During this match, Messi scored a stunning goal in the 36th minute of the second half after receiving the ball in midfield, dribbling past two defenders, evading the goalkeeper, and finishing with his left foot. Argentina won 8-0, with Messi contributing one goal and two assists.

Messi’s Goals Against Paraguay

Over the course of 13 matches against Paraguay, Messi has scored five goals. However, it wasn’t until his fifth encounter that he scored his first goal. In 2012, during a 3-1 victory for Argentina in Córdoba as part of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Messi found the back of the net.

From that point on, Messi continued to make an impact in World Cup qualification matches. In 2013, he scored twice in the 5-2 victory in Asunción, also during World Cup qualification for 2014. He later added a goal in the 2015 Copa América in Chile (a 2-2 draw in the group stage) and another in the 2019 Copa América in Brazil (a 1-1 draw in the group stage) under coach Lionel Scaloni.

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His most recent encounter with Paraguay was in October of the previous year at the Monumental Stadium, where Messi came on in the 53rd minute, replacing Julián Álvarez. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Argentina.

In total, Messi has faced Paraguay in 13 matches, with a record of six victories, five draws, and two losses.