Messi First World Cup Goal

Messi’s First FIFA World Cup Goal

When Lionel Messi made his senior World Cup debut for the Argentina national team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany, it marked the start of a global tournament journey. At just 18 years of age, he entered the match as a substitute and went on to score his first World Cup goal. The occasion came during Argentina’s group-stage fixture on 16 June 2006 against Serbia & Montenegro, a match that ended in a 6-0 victory. That goal made him the youngest Argentine to score at a World Cup

Messi Football Jerseys and Kits

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The Build Up to the Goal

Selection and Debut

Messi had earned his first senior cap for Argentina on 17 August 2005 in a friendly versus Hungary, at the age of 18. In the months that followed, he was included in the 2006 World Cup squad. According to reports, he was brought in by coach José Pékerman to blend youth potential with senior experience. His first World Cup match appearance came when he replaced Maxi Rodríguez in the 75th minute in the match versus Serbia & Montenegro.

The Match Context

In the group stage of the 2006 tournament, Argentina were placed in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro. On 16 June 2006, Argentina faced Serbia & Montenegro at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. The young Messi came on as a substitute and then scored in the 88th minute to cap the 6-0 win. This goal made him, at that moment, the youngest Argentine to score in a FIFA World Cup match: 18 years and 358 days.

Performance Summary

Statistical Highlights from the Match

Even though this was just one match, the significance of the goal is notable for both his national-team trajectory and for fans looking to collect his early Argentina jerseys.

Why the Moment Matters

• The goal marked Messi’s first in a FIFA World Cup tournament and signalled his arrival on the global stage.
• It was scored while wearing the Argentina number 19 shirt — a key detail for jersey collectors, because in later years he adopted the number 10.
• The match featured a dominant performance by Argentina, and Messi’s contribution confirmed the trust placed in him despite his youth.

Significance for Fans and Jersey Collectors

Early Era Jersey Insights

For fans of the Argentina national team and of Messi memorabilia, this era holds particular appeal:

• Messi’s number 19 shirt in the 2006 tournament becomes a collectible item.
• Wearing an early version of the Argentina kit in which he scored his first World Cup goal lends additional value.

Check out the official Argentina national team kits on jerseys4pro and consider the early-period shirts tied to Messi’s emergence.

Understanding the Collector’s Narrative

For jersey collectors and fans alike, recognizing the deeper context adds richness to a purchase:

• This goal frames the start of Messi’s World Cup journey, which would eventually span five tournaments to 2022 and culminate in a World Cup win
• The contrast between the number 19 era and his later number 10 identity highlights a transition from emerging talent to global icon
• A jersey from this period offers not just a sporting garment, but a piece of football history

Comparative View with Later Career

Messi’s goal in 2006 was modest in volume compared with the later stages of his career, but it carried symbolic weight. In subsequent World Cups his goal tally and influence increased markedly:

• He scored more goals in the 2014 and 2022 tournaments, and served as captain
• The 2006 goal was the foundation of his World Cup record as Argentina’s all-time top scorer and most-capped player

In collector terms, that first goal era gives context and provenance to subsequent jerseys and memorabilia

References

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia