A rare video from 1996 has resurfaced, showing a 9-year-old Lionel Messi performing kick-ups in front of a packed crowd at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa stadium, home of Newell’s Old Boys.
The young Messi, wearing the number 11 shirt and canvas sneakers, showcased his effortless control during celebrations after Newell’s youth side won the Copa Internacional de la Amistad.
What made the moment even more surreal was the fans chanting “Maradona, Maradona”, drawing early comparisons between the young talent and Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
The footage, kept for nearly 30 years, was recently uploaded to YouTube by Matías Sauro and has since gone viral.
The video’s timing added to its emotional weight, surfacing just days after Messi’s 38th birthday.
As part of the celebration, Newell’s Old Boys announced they are naming a new stand after him, the Lionel Andrés Messi Stand, which will face the existing Diego Maradona Stand.
It’s a symbolic gesture linking two of Argentina’s greatest ever players in one stadium.
The stand will be unveiled in July 2025, when renovations are complete, and while Messi’s return to the club remains a dream for many, this old clip reminds the world where the magic truly began.
Watch the video below:
Lionel Messi at 9 years old doing kick up’s to impress the crowd 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/Pb5gHJVFq9
— MessiMania (@M10Update) June 25, 2025
FKA/EB
Meanwhile, watch the latest edition of Sports Check with former Hearts of Oak midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway
