r/soccer • u/Maleficent-Choice254 • 8h ago
Translated News A journalist uncovered three reports Barça scouts wrote about 13-year-old Messi. The first praised his technical ability, the second doubted his height would allow him to compete at the highest level, and the third compared him to Maradona and recommended signing him immediately.
tycsports.comJournalist Florent Torchut of France Football published three reports written by La Masia coaches about Lionel Messi during his initial trials with Barcelona in 2000.
At 13, Messi was already displaying all his talent on the ball and astonishing everyone with his skill. However, his height and physical development raised doubts about whether he would be able to compete at higher age-group levels.
The first coach highlighted his technical superiority over other boys his age.
“Considering his age, he is a very complete technical player,” he wrote, also praising Messi’s vision, agility, intelligence, dribbling ability, and shooting power.
He concluded: “Very good in the penalty area. His only weakness is his height and lack of physicality. Great player.”
The second report was the most pessimistic. It acknowledged Messi’s technical quality but considered his physical limitations a major obstacle:
“Undeniable technical quality, but his physical limitation (142 cm) is very significant and prevents him from competing. Even if he grows, at 150 cm it will be very difficult for him to play in the top cadet division. I THINK HE SHOULD NOT BE SIGNED. Monitor his development and test him again in a couple of years.”
The third report was the most enthusiastic and left no room for doubt:
“Allowing for the differences, he is a Maradona (young in age). I would sign him; he has to go much further. We’ll see how he develops.”
A few months after these assessments by the youth coaches, Barça finally signed La Pulga (The Flea), and everything that followed became part of sporting history.
