Before he became one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi faced significant hardship. Twenty-one years ago, Messi, then a young aspiring player, experienced a life so challenging that he often struggled to afford basic necessities like food or transportation to training sessions. This poignant chapter of his life, specifically when he was 18 years old, has recently been brought back into the spotlight by Argentinian photographer Nicolas Ferrario Martin.
Martin, a renowned photographer from Argentina, shared a series of images and personal recollections on his Instagram account. These posts served to commemorate a remarkable assignment he undertook with the future global football icon. Martin detailed the story of Messi at the age of 18, recounting events from 2005, a period when Messi was just beginning his professional career with Barcelona’s senior team.
Even in those nascent stages, some companies had already approached Messi with advertising contracts, despite his limited playing time—often just over ten minutes per match—for Barcelona. However, the young Argentine remained intensely focused on his football development. Martin embarked on documenting the then 18-year-old’s life, picking Messi up from his home and bringing him to the National Flag Monument stadium in Rosario, Messi’s hometown. There, for a documentary video, Martin filmed the future Barcelona legend as he skillfully juggled the ball.
After the filming concluded, Martin, who is now around 45 years old, vividly recalled a conversation with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. It was during this time that Messi confessed his struggles, including not having money for food. Martin remembered the scene: “He (Messi) came out soaked in sweat, with his shoelaces untied, and many people walked past him without stopping for even a second or two. Back then, he wasn’t the Messi he is today; he was just a skinny young man.” Following the documentary shoot, as the crew packed up, only Messi and Martin remained. Sitting and chatting, the Argentinian photographer noticed Messi seemed hungry and asked if he wanted something to eat. The 18-year-old Messi candidly admitted he didn’t have a single penny on him, nor had he brought a wallet or any personal belongings to the shoot. Touched by this, Martin bought Messi a sausage sandwich. The two then sat and shared the meal, continuing their conversation on the stadium grass at the National Flag Monument.
Before they parted ways that day, 21 years ago, Martin made a prophetic statement to Messi: he told him that once Messi won the World Cup, he would tell everyone about the time he bought the future superstar a sausage sandwich. Martin’s recent Instagram post, sharing this deeply personal narrative, has resonated widely, attracting significant engagement, likes, and shares across social media platforms. Fans of Messi have expressed their admiration and even wished for their idol to compete for and win the World Cup again in the 2026 tournament.
Looking ahead to the potential landscape of the 2026 World Cup, 21 years after this humble encounter, the legendary striker Lionel Messi is still projected to be showcasing his immense talent. Even at 39 years old, he is envisioned leading Argentina to the semi-finals, potentially facing England. In this speculative scenario for the 2026 World Cup, the Inter Miami player is imagined maintaining a full, excellent performance, having scored an impressive eight goals and competing for the Golden Boot in the North American tournament.
