Major Secret Revealed: Former Argentine Coach Saved Messi from Spanish National Team Project

Argentine megastar Lionel Messi nearly wore the Spanish national team jersey in 2004. The story began with a brief conversation overheard by former Argentina coach Jose Pekerman in Europe.

Messi had been living in Spain since age 13 while training at La Masia. By 17, he'd broken into Barcelona's senior team, though not yet a regular starter.

His brilliance attracted attention, including from Spain's youth setup preparing for the U-20 World Cup.

According to Pekerman in an event hosted by Diario Ole and cited by The Athletic, Spain's interest in Messi was concrete.

While in Europe, Pekerman overheard a Spanish staff member discussing an extraordinarily talented young attacker – later realizing it was Messi.

Spain had even scouted Messi during the U-17 tournament in Finland and regretted not selecting him.

"Spanish staff told us if that kid (Messi) were in their squad, they'd surely win," said Pekerman.

Had Messi played for Spain U-17 then, FIFA rules would've barred him from representing another nation.

Upon returning to Argentina, Pekerman immediately contacted Hugo Tocalli, Argentina's U-20 coach. Tocalli was shocked when Pekerman insisted on calling up a player despite the nearly finalized squad list.

"Why are you telling me now about this kid we must call?" asked Tocalli.

But Pekerman had a bigger mission than recruiting talent: securing Messi for Argentina permanently.

"I told him I didn't want Messi playing unless necessary – just a friendly match to sign the match report and send it to FIFA. That way Spain couldn't do anything," he explained.

Pekerman called Messi Argentine football's future: "He's the rebirth of Argentine football, a blessing. But with paperwork ready for him to play Spain's U-20 World Cup – which would bind him to them – we had to hurry."

FIFA rules then allowed binding a player to a nation through mere minutes in an official friendly.

The Argentine FA under Julio Grondona swiftly arranged a match against Paraguay in Buenos Aires.

Messi came on in the second half, replacing Ezequiel Lavezzi. He scored once and provided an assist in an 8-0 rout. In one night, Argentina legally "claimed" Messi from Spain.

Years later in 2018, Messi revealed friends suggested he'd win more trophies with Spain: "But it wouldn't feel the same. That thought never crossed my mind. Winning with Argentina is unique."

Two decades after nearly being "poached" by Spain, Messi lifted the 2022 World Cup trophy with Argentina in Qatar following a dramatic final against France.

An ending that might never have happened had Jose Pekerman not overheard that brief conversation in Europe and acted decisively.