Henrik Larsson has revealed his honest first impression of Lionel Messi during their time together at Barcelona and admitted he initially had no idea how special the young Argentine would become.
The Swedish legend’s reflection offers a rare glimpse into the early days of Messi’s rise, when few could have predicted the extraordinary career that was about to unfold.
Larsson joined Barcelona in 2004 and spent two seasons at the Camp Nou, a period that overlapped with the early stages of Messi’s journey from La Masia prospect to global superstar.
Speaking years later, Larsson recalled the moment he first noticed the teenager during pre-season and how his view of him evolved as Messi began to take over world football.
For a player who shared the pitch with Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o, and Deco, it was understandable that a young Messi did not immediately stand out. But as Larsson would soon learn, appearances can be deceiving.
Henrik Larsson recalls first seeing Lionel Messi in Barcelona training
In an interview on The Overlap, Larsson said, “Messi was not in the squad in my first year. But the second year, when we were in pre-season, I think it was in Japan, I saw him on the flight but never really thought more of him. Then I saw him in practice, and I asked Giovanni [van Bronckhorst], ‘Who is that?’”
At the time, Messi was just beginning to train regularly with Barcelona’s senior team under Frank Rijkaard. Larsson’s curiosity was shared by several veterans, who were only starting to grasp the scale of talent emerging from the club’s academy.
Messi’s breakthrough came shortly after, as he made his first team debut in 2004 and scored his first La Liga goal in 2005.
Within a few years, the teenager Larsson barely noticed would become the focal point of Barcelona’s dominance, winning Ballon d’Ors and rewriting football’s record books.
Henrik Larsson admits he could not see Lionel Messi surpassing Ronaldinho
Reflecting on those early days, Larsson added, “No, I couldn’t tell. Not many people haven’t seen Ronaldinho. I was playing with Ronaldinho at the time. He was the greatest.”
“He could do anything with the ball but also efficient. I didn’t see Messi being that good. The technique, the speed, the left foot, everything was there, but for me, it was hard to see anybody surpassing Ronaldinho,” he concluded.
Larsson’s honesty captures the sentiment of many players from that era, when Ronaldinho’s brilliance defined football.
Few imagined that the quiet Argentine teenager who stood out for his quick feet and low center of gravity would one day eclipse even the Brazilian magician’s influence at the club.
The young forward who once blended into the background became Barcelona’s heartbeat, guiding them to Champions League titles and breaking nearly every major record in the sport.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
