At 76, José Pekerman remains one of the most respected coaches in Argentine soccer. After a brilliant run leading Argentina’s youth teams, he went on to manage the senior squad and famously handed Lionel Messi his debut with the Albiceleste.
Speaking at the Olé Summit organized by the Argentine newspaper, Pekerman revisited the behind-the-scenes mission he orchestrated in 2004 to prevent Messi playing in the Under-20 World Cup for Spain.
Peckerman explained: “When I left the national team, the staff continued with [Hugo] Tocalli. I was heading to Europe to keep learning and updating my work. In Spain, we had information about Lionel from an Under-17 tournament in Finland that he had played with Spain. The Spanish staff told us that if we had had that kid, we would have won. I told Tocalli I was stunned. He was the player of the future. I couldn’t be wrong. He was the new phenomenon in Argentine soccer, a blessing."
“At the time, FIFA rules said that if a player appeared for one youth national team, he couldn’t switch to another. The paperwork was ready for Messi, who was 18, to play the Under-20 World Cup with Spain. Then the operation began.”
“Tocalli told me he had his squad ready for the South American Under-20 Championship that started in a month. I told him I didn’t want Messi to play unless it was absolutely necessary, just that he play a friendly, sign the roster, and send it to FIFA. And that’s it. Spain would be out of the picture forever,” Pekerman continued. If Messi appeared in that friendly for Argentina’s Under-20s, as he ultimately did, any chance of him representing Spain would be gone.
“I spoke with the president [Julio Grondona]. I told him I wanted to come back, that we had to send the invitation to Barcelona. I had a vision when I saw him, but also luck. I thought he would be just like Diego [Maradona]. I told Don Julio to find any opponent, that Tocalli was on board, but with one condition: the match had to be at Argentinos’ stadium. If Diego played there…,” Pekerman said as he revisited one of the most important maneuvers in Argentine soccer history.
The friendly took place on June 29, 2004 and Argentina beat Paraguay 8-0. Messi replaced Ezequiel Lavezzi at halftime, scored Argentina’s seventh goal and assisted the fifth. with that, Messi’s international future was tied to the Argentinian national team and he would go on to build an incredible legacy in world soccer.