RBNY vs. Barca tickets
For those scouring the field, FC Barcelona's Argentinean midfielder Lionel Messi is hard to miss. With his flamboyant play as an attacking midfielder, he has already drawn comparisons with one of the greatest players in the beautiful game's history: Diego Maradona.
And the kicker? Messi is only 19 years old.
Messi will be one of the many stars on display on Aug. 12 when the New York Red Bulls take on UEFA Champions League winners at Giants Stadium.
Since he was a teenager, Messi was able to rapidly rise through the ranks of FC Barcelona's youth system and in October 2004, was the third-youngest player to ever play for the senior team at 17. A few months later he became the youngest player in club history to score a first-team goal.
On the international level, Messi has been equally as impressive. During the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Holland, Messi led the team to the title and was not only the competition's leading goalscorer, but was also the best player of the tournament. Soon, Messi made his first international senior team start.
The Argentinean broke through in the 2005-06 season for FC Barcelona, playing with other stars such as Brazilian Ronaldinho and making a huge impact. In 17 La Liga appearances, he scored six goals and was a key cog in Barcelona's run to a UEFA Champions League title until he injured his right thigh in March.
Still, the teen made an impact in the most recent World Cup in Germany, scoring in his side's 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro and becoming the 2006 tournament's youngest scorer. He has labeled by many experts to be a player to watch for years to come.
Don't miss your chance to see Messi and the other great talents on display when FC Barcelona takes on your New York Red Bulls:
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