Spain Nearly Recruited Lionel Messi Before Argentina Secured Him

A new ESPN documentary titled "The Lost Tape" reveals how Spain almost convinced Lionel Messi to play for their national team instead of Argentina. Despite Messi's Argentine roots and his legendary status with Argentina, the Spanish Football Federation actively pursued him in the early 2000s when he was a rising star in Barcelona's youth academy. At that time, Argentina's youth teams had not called him up, unaware of his talent due to limited internet exposure.

Spain's youth coach, Gines Melendez, enlisted close associates of Messi, including Barcelona youth coach Alex Garcia and friend Victor Vasquez, to persuade him to represent Spain. They highlighted Messi's unique skills and potential to make Spain unbeatable. Melendez even assured Messi he could still switch allegiance until age 21. However, Messi remained committed to Argentina, viewing it as his true home.

Meanwhile, Argentina scrambled to locate Messi's family and formally integrate him into their national setup. Omar Soto, Argentina's team manager, contacted Messi's uncle, leading to Messi's debut for Argentina's under-20 team in June 2004 during friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. This marked the beginning of Messi's historic career with Argentina, where he became the nation's all-time leader in appearances and goals.

The documentary reflects on the "what if" scenario of Messi playing for Spain, especially considering Spain's golden generation that won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup. It suggests that football history might have been dramatically different had Messi joined Spain. Ultimately, both nations thrived, but the story underscores how a single VHS tape and small decisions shaped football history.

"The Lost Tape" is available on Disney+, offering fans insight into one of football's greatest near-misses and the pivotal moments that defined Messi's allegiance.