Sam Marsden May 13, 2026, 05:00 AM ET

How would the past 20 years of international football have looked if Lionel Messi had played for Spain and not Argentina ?

For Messi, not representing the country of his birth was never an option. But there was a moment in his young career when, still unknown in his homeland, Spain sensed an opportunity to get him to commit his future to La Roja .

With Spain on the scene, once word escaped of this long-haired teenager from Rosario tearing it up for Barcelona 's academy, panic set in at the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

What followed is a remarkable story involving a Messi highlight reel on VHS tape, a frantic day ringing everyone called Messi in the phone book, people repeatedly getting the future superstar's name wrong, and a hastily arranged match to ensure Argentina tied him down.

- Stream 'Messi: The Forgotten Tape' on ESPN+ (U.S.)

As part of a new documentary, ESPN spoke to those behind Messi's first international call-up, providing new details on the…