How many years did Lionel Messi play for Newell’s Old Boys? How many goals did he score?

Lionel Messi will never forget 15 February 2024, the date on which he will play for Inter Miami against Newell’s Old Boys, his boyhood club. The Argentine superstar joined the team from his hometown of Rosario at the age of six and stayed for over six years before moving across the Atlantic to Barcelona in 2000. His 21-year spell in Spain ended with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, who he left last summer to join The Herons.

How did Messi became a Newell’s Old Boys’ fan?

Messi has never hidden his love for Newell’s, the local club he supported as a child, even before it became clear soccer was his life. His father, Jorge, would take him to the stadium to watch La Lepra (The Lepers) in action, capturing his interest at a very young age.

A little further down the line, in 1994, Messi joined the youth academy and his road to greatness began. He quickly became known as one of the club’s most outstanding talents, and one of the most outstanding talents anywhere, which he has long since proven.

Messi’s incredible goalscoring record for Newell’s youth teams

In recognition of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s special bond with Newell’s, Inter Miami shared an image on social of the current Messi, wearing a Herons jersey, hand in hand with a “young” Messi, sporting the Argentine club’s red and black kit.

From there, Messi stayed with the club until 2000, leaving for Barcelona at the age of 13. In Catalonia, where he received treatment for a growth hormone deficiency, he was welcome into the famed La Masía academy and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Inter Miami star played for Newell’s’ youth teams between the ages of six and 12, with Argentine media, including sports daily Olé, claiming he scored a total of 234 goals in just 176 games in a red and black jersey. On Thursday, he will have the opportunity to score his first one against them when he lines up for Inter Miami.