La Liga – Matchday 18Date: January 30, 2005Fixture: FC Barcelona vs. Real ZaragozaVenue: Camp Nou, BarcelonaWeather: Cool, breezy, 10°CAttendance: 72,000
The Zaragoza manager had made no secret of it in the press the night before:
"We will not let Messi play."
Not stop Barcelona.Not counter Ronaldinho.But shut down Messi.
That was the new reality.
The 17-year-old from Rosario, who once walked unnoticed through this city, was now the man every team planned around.
Zaragoza came out aggressive from the first whistle.
Two defensive midfielders tracked Messi everywhere. He couldn't touch the ball without feeling a hand on his back or an elbow near his ribs.
Every time he tried to receive in the half-space, they closed in.When he drifted wider, the right-back shoved him onto the sideline.
By the 20th minute, he'd only had 14 touches — most of them backward or sideways.
But Messi wasn't frustrated.He was studying.
He began adjusting his position, inch by inch, pulling his markers wider — not to escape them, but to displace them.Each movement opened room for Ronaldinho and Xavi.Zaragoza didn't notice it.But Rijkaard did.
"He's dragging them out of shape," the coach murmured.
Then came the shift.
In the 34th minute, Ronaldinho dropped deep to collect, drawing one midfielder with him. Messi stepped into the gap.
One second. One pass.
He turned. Ran at the backline.A feint inside. Then a low pass through to Eto'o.
The striker smashed it first-time.GOAL. 1–0. Assist: Messi.
Zaragoza's trap had snapped — but caught no one.
The second half began with more pressure. Zaragoza didn't quit.In the 55th minute, they nearly scored from a set piece — a header just wide of Valdés's post.
But it was Messi who drew the next big moment.
He danced around one, nutmegged another, and was hauled down just outside the box.
Free kick. Left side. 24 yards out.
Ronaldinho stood over it first. Then stepped aside.
"Go on, Leo."
Messi took a breath.
Three steps. Quiet power. The shot curled left… dipped late… and kissed the net on the inside of the post.
GOAL. 2–0. Lionel Messi.His first goal from a free kick.
The crowd exploded.
Messi stood still for a second, stunned, then raised both arms slowly toward the sky —not with arrogance, but with quiet awe.
Ronaldinho hugged him tight.
"Now you're really dangerous."
Zaragoza pulled one back late, but Barcelona held strong.Another win. Another lesson passed.
Messi walked off with his head down — not out of modesty, but focus.
He was already thinking about training tomorrow.
Post-Match Interview
Reporter: "Leo, your first free kick goal in La Liga. How did that feel?"
Messi:(shy smile)
"I've been practicing a lot. I just wanted to hit it clean. It felt… good."
Reporter: "You were heavily marked today. Was that frustrating?"
Messi:
"Not really. If I'm marked, someone else is free. That's the job — find the space, or create it."
Reporter: "With Argentina watching and Barcelona winning, how do you stay so grounded?"
Messi:(quietly)
"I think about the ball. That's all. If I think about the rest, I'll lose focus."
Notebook Entry – January 30, 2005
Anto,They tried to stop me today. But I didn't fight. I moved. I watched. I waited.And when the gap came, I made it count.I scored from a free kick. It finally went in.I felt something different today. Like… I belong here.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Season Stats (as of Matchday 18)
Appearances: 24
Goals: 13
Assists: 13
Free Kick Goals: 1 (from 4 attempts)
Key Passes: 54
Dribbles Completed: 109
Yellow Cards: 0
Times Fouled: 51
Next Fixture Preview
Copa del Rey Quarter-Final – 1st LegBarcelona vs. Sevilla FCDate: February 2, 2005Venue: Camp NouKey Note: Sevilla are physical, tactically sharp, and boast a young Dani Alves at right-backScouts Expected: Argentina U-20 coaches to attend in person