Lionel Messi's World Cup semi-final showdown with England is poised to write a new chapter in history. But little known to many fans is the contentious red card that first brought him face-to-face with the Three Lions – a decision so baffling, it sparked outrage among football purists.
The only previous encounter between Messi and England came in 2005 when the young Argentine sensation was infamously absent from the Argentina squad due to a one-match suspension. That match, a friendly in Geneva, saw Michael Owen net two late goals for England, securing a thrilling 3-2 victory over their South American opponents.
But what many might not recall is that Messi's international career almost got off to a disastrous start just months prior, during his debut against Hungary in Budapest. Entering the fray as an 18-year-old substitute, he was given his marching orders by German referee Markus Merk just 47 seconds later – a decision that would spark fierce debate.
The incident saw Messi attempting to break free from Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczak's grip, but Merk deemed it a stray elbow and handed the young star a red card. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, then a player on the pitch, was among those protesting the referee's decision, which South American expert Tim Vickery described as 'a crime against football' – highlighting Messi's innocence in the affair.
Looking back, Messi reflected that it wasn't quite the debut he had envisioned. Yet, this setback proved to be merely a minor blip on his illustrious career path. Serving out his one-match suspension during Argentina's friendly with England, he bounced back stronger than ever – scoring his first international goal just months later against Croatia and cementing his status as a World Cup sensation.