Franco Mastantuono is living the dream after making his Real Madrid debut at just 18 years old in their LaLiga 2025 opener against Osasuna. His appearance for Los Blancos immediately drew comparisons with another Argentine icon — Lionel Messi. Naturally, the question came up: how old was Messi when he first played for Barcelona?
While Mastantuono stepped onto the Bernabeu pitch at 18, Messi was even younger when he first wore Barcelona’s colors. Back in November 2003, Messi played a friendly against Porto at only 16 years old. The teenager came on in the 71st minute for Fernando Navarro in a match managed by Frank Rijkaard. Though Barça lost 2–0, it marked the beginning of what would become one of football’s greatest stories.
Messi’s official Barcelona debut arrived nearly a year later on October 16, 2004. At 17, he replaced Deco in the 82nd minute during Barcelona’s 1–0 win over Espanyol. That brief moment launched a legendary career spanning 17 seasons with the Spanish giants.
On Saturday, Mastantuono had his own big moment. He came on in the 68th minute for Brahim Diaz against Osasuna. The teenager almost scored late in the game, only to be denied by goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. Still, the Bernabeu crowd welcomed him warmly, chanting his name as he stepped onto the pitch — a sign of the excitement surrounding his future with Madrid.
Messi’s Barcelona career needs no introduction. He played 779 games, scored 672 goals, and won everything possible — 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League crowns, 7 Copa del Rey trophies, and a record 8 Ballon d’Ors. For Mastantuono, matching that legacy is nearly impossible. But his journey has officially begun, and Madrid fans will be watching closely to see where it leads.