The Glasgow Rangers paid so much to Mikel Arteta and Ronald DeBoer, not strangers signing Barcelona gamers within the early 2000s.
Nonetheless, the Ibrox individuals nearly introduced Lionel Messi from the Catalan giants earlier than breaking into photos of the primary staff at Know Camp.
The Argentine icon is appropriately acknowledged as top-of-the-line footballers to play the sport, and has not appeared again since his debut in 2004 on the age of 17 at Senior Barcelona.
Lionel Messi’s foremost honors | The yr I received |
|---|---|
Ballon d’Or | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
World Cup | 2022 |
American Cup | 2021, 2024 |
Champions League | 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 |
league | 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
League 1 | 2022, 2023 |
UEFA Tremendous Cup | 2009, 2011, 2015 |
Membership World Cup | 2010, 2012, 2016 |
Copa del Rey | 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 |
Spanish Tremendous Cup | 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 |
Supporters Defend | 2024 |
MLS League Cup | 2023 |
Olympic gold medal | 2008 |
French Tremendous Cup | 2022 |
Messi has received every part there’s to win within the sport, together with eight Barondoor Awards, and he in the end claimed the glory of the World Cup along with his nation in 2022.
But when the individuals of Glasgow gave manner, issues might have been very totally different to the magician.
How Ranger almost signed Messi from Barcelona
In accordance with a report from the purpose, the Rangers really inquired to signal Messi on mortgage from Barcelona earlier than their senior debut. Sadly, these efforts have been turned down by the individuals of Know Camp, nevertheless it was Alex McCleesh’s son John who discovered Messi.
Speaking about Graham Hunter’s The Massive Interview Podcast in 2017, McLeish detailed how his son’s love for his soccer supervisor warned Messi in 2003.
“My son John was within the Championship Supervisor. He was always giving me a reputation in South America. They got here out of the sky and mentioned, ‘Lionel Messi can be the most effective participant on the earth.’
“He was 13 or 14 on the time. You dismissed that, however the rangers have been downsizing and we have been searching for some high quality mid-season.
“Barry Ferguson was on Blackburn and misplaced the person who stole the ball in a stadium wherever on the earth, and once more he wanted that sort of participant.
“Yang Woaters known as Henk Ten Kate, former assistant to Dutch Worldwide Frank Rickard.
“Yang known as him and mentioned, ‘Messi?’ They informed me there was no likelihood. ”
John’s prediction that Messi would be the best on the earth is correct and reveals the facility {that a} soccer supervisor can have in actual life.
