answers.input_text: short
answers.span_text: 2001
questions: when did lionel messi play his first game for barcelona
name: Lionel Messi
contexts: Lionel Messi Messi with Barcelona in December 2016 Full name Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini Date of birth ( 1987 - 06 - 24 ) 24 June 1987 ( age 30 ) Place of birth Rosario , Argentina Height 1.70 m ( 5 ft 7 in ) Playing position Forward Club information Current team Barcelona Number 10 Youth career 1994 -- 2000 Newell 's Old Boys 2001 -- 2004 Barcelona Senior career * Years Team Apps ( Gls ) 2003 -- 2004 Barcelona C 10 ( 5 ) 2004 -- 2005 Barcelona B 22 ( 6 ) 2004 -- Barcelona 414 ( 378 ) National team 2004 -- 2005 Argentina U20 18 ( 14 ) 2008 Argentina U23 5 ( 2 ) 2005 -- Argentina 123 ( 61 ) Honours ( show ) Representing Argentina Olympic Games 2008 Beijing FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil Copa América 2007 Venezuela 2015 Chile 2016 United States South American U-20 Championship 2005 Colombia FIFA U-20 World Cup 2005 Netherlands * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 April 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2017