Lionel Messi made his Barcelona debut when he came on for Deco in a La Liga match against Espanyol in 2004.

A product of Barcelona’s youth academy, Messi was promoted to the first team for the 2004/05 season. On October 16, 2004, he debuted against Espanyol, replacing Deco in the 82nd minute. At 17 years and three months, he became the youngest player to appear for the club in an official match.

Messi went on to play 520 La Liga matches for Barcelona, becoming the club’s all-time appearance leader with 778 games across all competitions. Nearly 18 years later, let’s see where the players from that debut-day lineup are now.

Goalkeeper: Victor Valdes

Valdes, another La Masia graduate, played for Barcelona’s first team from 2002 to 2014 before joining Manchester United.

He retired in 2017 after a season at Middlesbrough. In 2019, Valdes returned to Barcelona to coach the U19 team but left in October 2020 to manage UA Horta, a local Barcelona club. In January 2021, he stepped down to support Joan Laporta’s campaign for the club presidency.

Left-Back: Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Giovanni played four seasons at Barcelona, from 2003 to 2007, retiring at Feyenoord in 2010.

In 2011, he became Feyenoord’s assistant coach, serving four seasons before taking the head coach role in 2015. Over five years, he won five trophies, including an Eredivisie title. In 2020, he coached China’s Guangzhou R&F but left after a year for personal reasons.

Center-Back: Carles Puyol

Puyol spent his entire career at Barcelona, from 1999 to 2014, winning six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues. He ranks fifth in club appearances with 593 matches.

Center-Back: Oleguer Presas

The Spanish defender played six seasons for Barcelona, from 2003 to 2008, before moving to Ajax. He retired in 2011 and now coaches at a local football school in Catalunya.

Right-Back: Juliano Belletti

The Brazilian joined Barcelona in 2004, spending three seasons at Camp Nou before moving to Chelsea. A severe Achilles injury forced his retirement in 2011.

In February 2021, Belletti became an assistant coach at Cruzeiro, a Brazilian Serie B club.

Defensive Midfielder: Rafael Marquez

Primarily a center-back, Marquez was deployed as a defensive midfielder by coach Frank Rijkaard in this match.

He played seven seasons at Barcelona, from 2003 to 2010, before joining New York Red Bulls in MLS. He retired in 2018 after two seasons at Atlas FC in Mexico.

Central Midfielder: Deco

The Portuguese legend joined Barcelona after winning the Champions League with Porto in 2004. He won two La Liga titles and a Champions League with the club.

Deco moved to Chelsea in 2008 and retired in 2013 at Fluminense.

Central Midfielder: Xavi Hernandez

One of Barcelona’s greatest players, Xavi ranks second in club appearances with 767, behind only Messi.

After 17 years at Barcelona, he left in 2015 for Qatar’s Al Sadd, playing four seasons before retiring. In 2019, he became Al Sadd’s head coach. In late 2021, following Ronald Koeman’s sacking, Xavi returned to Barcelona as manager, tasked with restoring the club’s glory.

Attacking Midfielder: Ronaldinho

The Brazilian icon played for Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, winning six titles, including two La Liga crowns and a Champions League. He retired in January 2018.

In March 2020, Ronaldinho and his brother were arrested in Paraguay for using fake passports to enter the country, spending five months in jail and under house arrest.

Forward: Samuel Eto’o

The Cameroonian striker played for Barcelona from 2004 to 2009, later joining Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Everton. He retired in 2019 and is now a Qatar 2022 World Cup ambassador.

Forward: Henrik Larsson

The Swedish striker spent two seasons at Barcelona, from 2004 to 2006. He announced his retirement in 2009 but continued playing for Raa IF and Hogaborgs BK, fully retiring in 2013.

Since 2010, Larsson has coached and assisted at Swedish clubs like Landskrona BoIS, Hogaborgs, and Falkenbergs FF. In 2020, he joined Barcelona’s staff under Ronald Koeman but left when Koeman was sacked.

Substitute: Andres Iniesta

Another La Masia product, Iniesta debuted for Barcelona in 2002 and played until 2018, ranking third in club appearances behind Messi and Xavi.

After leaving, he joined Japan’s Vissel Kobe in the J-League. At 38, he remains a key player for the team.

Substitute: Ruben Martinez

Promoted to Barcelona’s first team in 2004, the Spanish goalkeeper left in 2008 for Cartagena. After stints at five clubs, he joined Osasuna in 2018.

In 2021, he signed with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.

Substitute: Damia Abella

Abella spent two seasons at Barcelona, from 2004 to 2006, before joining Betis.

He retired in 2016 at Middlesbrough, aged 34.

Substitute: Cristian Hidalgo

At 38, Hidalgo is still playing for Ordino in Andorra. He built his career at Deportivo and Hercules but never played a La Liga match for Barcelona, leaving in 2006.

Substitute: Carlos Pena

The Spanish defender played for India’s Goa FC before retiring in 2020.

Substitute: Fernando Navarro

Navarro spent three years at Deportivo before retiring in 2018. He was with Barcelona from 2001 to 2006, but his career peaked at Sevilla from 2008 to 2015, where he won three titles.

A former Spain international, Navarro was part of the Euro 2008-winning squad.