Date: April 10–14, 2005Competition: La Liga – Matchday 25Fixture: FC Barcelona vs. Deportivo La CoruñaVenue: Camp NouKickoff: April 13, 2005 – 9:00 PMWeather: Cool, breezy – 12°CAttendance: 87,500
April 10 – Back at Camp Nou
The locker room felt the same—but Messi felt different.
He was welcomed back with grins and playful shoulder bumps. Ronaldinho handed him a water bottle and winked.
"Did Rosario miss you?"
"A little," Messi smiled. "I missed the ball more."
Rijkaard walked in moments later and wrote the starting XI on the board. There was no hesitation.
Messi – RW. Starting.
April 11–12 – Focused Fire
Training was sharp.
Messi worked closely with assistant coaches on movement without the ball, and then stayed back alone for free kick practice.
Training Totals (April 12):
Free Kick Attempts: 25
Goals: 18
Wall-passed drills completed: 7 sets
Sprint conditioning: Best time in team
Rijkaard noticed.
"You've grown over the break," he told Messi."Not just in your legs. In your eyes."
Match Night – April 13
Deportivo had nothing to lose and everything to prove. Their coach warned the media:
"We're not here to admire Messi or Ronaldinho. We're here to fight."
But Camp Nou had its own voice—87,000 strong.
"¡MESSI! ¡MESSI! ¡MESSI!"
Kickoff – First Half
Minute 1–10
Barcelona came out aggressive. Xavi controlled the tempo, Deco pulled strings, and Messi stayed high and wide.
Minute 7 — Messi took on the left-back, shifted the ball right to left, burst into the box—and was chopped down.
Penalty.
Ronaldinho stepped up.Goal. 1–0.
Messi didn't celebrate loudly. Just pointed to Ronaldinho and jogged back, head down.
He wanted his goal to come from play.
Minute 15–30 – Turning Up the Heat
Minute 17 — Deco sent a pass through midfield. Messi, sprinting diagonally, took it in stride.
One touch. Defender beaten. Shot low.
Saved.
The crowd groaned—but applauded.
Minute 25 — Barcelona countered off a Deportivo corner. Messi picked up the ball inside his own half, dodged one, two, then three defenders before releasing Giuly.
Cross. Back post.Messi slid in—GOAL. 2–0.
Camp Nou erupted. Messi ran to the corner flag, kissed his fingers, and pointed to the sky.
Halftime: Barcelona 2–0 Deportivo
In the tunnel, Messi passed Riquelme's quote on a wall plaque:
"Play for joy. Win for the people."
He touched the metal gently before heading out again.
Second Half – The Maestro's Touch
Minute 54 — Free kick outside the box. Ronaldinho stepped aside again.
Messi curled it over the wall—just high.
But it kept Deportivo guessing.
Minute 61 — Deco to Xavi. Xavi to Messi. Messi with a backheel to Eto'o.
Goal. 3–0. Assist: Messi.
Minute 72 — Rijkaard subbed him off to a standing ovation.
Even Deportivo's coach clapped.
Full-Time: FC Barcelona 3–0 Deportivo
Goals: Ronaldinho (7' pen), Messi (25'), Eto'o (61')Assists: Messi (1), Xavi, DecoMan of the Match: Lionel Messi – 1 goal, 1 assist, 6 dribbles, 3 fouls won, 72 minutes played
Post-Match Interview
Catalan TV Reporter:
"Lionel, every time you touch the ball, this stadium holds its breath. What does that feel like?"
Messi:
"Like I owe them something beautiful every time."
Reporter:
"And your Argentina debut?"
Messi:
"When the whistle blows and I'm in blue and white… you'll know."
Notebook Entry – April 13, 2005
Anto,The grass here feels familiar again. Like it's learning my rhythm.I scored tonight, but it wasn't the goal I'll remember—it was the pass to Eto'o. The smile he gave me. That moment of connection.Football is sharing, not showing off.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Updated Stats (as of April 13, 2005)
Season (Club):
Matches: 36
Goals: 26
Assists: 28
Free Kick Goals (Match): 2
Free Kick Goals (Training): 22
Dribbles Completed: 184
Fouls Suffered: 91
Career Totals (Club + Country):
Matches: 38
Goals: 29
Assists: 30
Dribbles Completed: 200
National Team Caps (Senior): 0
National Team Goals: 0
La Liga Standings (After Matchday 25):
1st: FC Barcelona – 72 pts
2nd: Real Madrid – 69 pts
3rd: Sevilla – 65 pts
4th: Villarreal – 62 pts
World Football News – April 13
Premier League: Manchester United draw against Tottenham; Chelsea now favorites for the title.
Serie A: Milan defeat Inter 2–0 in the Derby della Madonnina.
Bundesliga: Ballack's brace keeps Bayern in the hunt.
South America: Argentina U-20 squad begins pre-Copa training with Messi officially on standby list.
Awards Update: Ballon d'Or watchlists being compiled; Messi's name begins circulating among dark horse nominees.