Would the world have known Messi in another national team's jersey? .. A new list redraws the map of talents in Argentina

The Argentine Football Association has approved a list that prevents the call-up of minor players who leave local clubs for foreign professional contracts before signing their first professional contract to represent national teams in age categories.

The decision will come into effect at the beginning of 2026, as part of the association's efforts to protect the rights of clubs and prevent the transfer of talents without financial returns.

Messi at the forefront of football discussion

The decision has brought attention back to the early career of star Lionel Messi, as observers believe that the application of these rules at the beginning of the millennium would have directly affected his international career with the Argentine national team.

The new regulations do not prevent the player from pursuing a career abroad, but they prohibit him from representing youth national teams, which are a crucial stage for reaching the senior national team.

Early transfer to Barcelona

Messi moved from Rosario to Barcelona at the age of thirteen without signing a professional contract with an Argentine club, after the Spanish club took care of his growth hormone deficiency treatment and included him in the "La Masia" academy.

If the current law had been applied back then, Messi would have been absent from participating with Argentina's youth teams, including the 2005 Youth World Cup where he shone and won with the national team.

Potential international options

If he had not participated with Argentina's youth teams, Messi could have represented the Spanish national team, as he grew up in Barcelona, or played for the Italian national team, benefiting from his family origins that grant him the right to represent it.

Potential impacts on the history of the Argentine national team

Messi's absence from the Argentine national team could have changed many significant football milestones, including the 2014 World Cup final and the 2022 World Cup title, in addition to marketing and sporting implications related to the player's global value.

A balance between protecting clubs and developing national teams

The decision reflects a trend to protect clubs' investments in developing young players, at a time when questions arise about its impact on the future emergence of Argentine talents within national teams.