Messi made his official (aka not exhibition) Barcelona senior team debut at age 17 on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol. When he stepped on the field as a sub in the 82nd minute, he became the youngest player to appear for the Catalan giants in an official match. That began a glittering 17 seasons in one of the most famous sides in soccer history.
The 2004 Mega Cracks card is a fitting first for Messi. The issue, only released in Spain, is difficult to find in top condition due to poor card stock and a perceived lack of care taken by European collectors in the early 2000s.
Of the more than 940 examples assessed by BGS, none have earned a higher grade than this Gem Mint 9.5. This copy is a true gem thanks to its subgrades of 10 for Surface, and 9.5 for Centering, Corners and Edges.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 06/04/2026.
This item was flash inserted on Jun 2, 2026.
