Date: December 2, 2004Location: Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper – Barcelona Training GroundMatch Context: 4 days until a crucial La Liga clash vs. ValenciaOff-Field Pressure: Rising media buzz. Internal competition. Quiet friction.
A Chilly Morning in Catalonia
The cold hit Messi first. Not wind. Not temperature. But the chill of atmosphere.
Training was intense. Rijkaard had split the squad into two groups. First-team vs. reserves. Messi stood on the right wing, stretching. He glanced at the opposite team and saw Giuly warming up, eyeing him without smiling.
The French winger had returned from injury.And he wanted his spot back.
The Whispering Begins
That morning, the press ran headlines like:
📰 "Barcelona's Youth Gem or France's Proven Star?"📰 "Too Much, Too Soon for Messi?"📰 "Giuly Back. Messi Under Watch."
It was nonsense.But it planted seeds.
In the locker room, nobody said it aloud. But Messi felt it — little shifts in tone, in looks. He wasn't the new boy anymore. He was competition.
The Training Duel
The session wasn't a match. But it might as well have been.
Messi vs. Giuly.
Both played wide right. Both tracked back, burst forward, demanded the ball. Every movement was watched by Rijkaard, by the coaching staff, by teammates.
In a small-sided drill, Messi received a pass from Iniesta, turned sharply, and glided between two cones as if defenders weren't even there. He buried a shot top corner past Valdés.
Seconds later, Giuly did the same. Harder shot. Louder celebration.
Rijkaard blew the whistle.
"Good. Very good," he said. But his eyes rested a second longer on Messi.
Ronaldinho Takes Him Aside
Later that day, in the hallway near the gym, Ronaldinho leaned against a wall and waved Messi over.
"Don't let it in," he said.
"What?"
"The noise. The stares. The questions. All of it. They'll try to make it a fight."
"But it is, isn't it?" Messi asked quietly.
Ronaldinho chuckled.
"You're not fighting him. Or them. You're fighting you. Every day. Stay hungry. Stay humble. Don't think. Just play."
Messi nodded, but it stayed with him. That feeling.
Pressure without words.
A Surprise Chat with Rijkaard
That evening, just before leaving, Rijkaard called him into his office. Calm tone. A warm drink waiting.
"You're doing well," he said. "But remember — it's not enough to shine. You have to sustain. Talent gives you chances. Work keeps you there."
"I understand," Messi replied.
Rijkaard smiled faintly.
"We'll see. Sunday — Valencia. One of the best defenses in the league. You'll start. Show me you're not just the future. Show me you're the present."
The Night Walk
That night, Messi didn't go home right away. He walked around the empty training ground under the floodlights. The wind tugged at his hoodie. His boots still carried the scent of grass.
He took out his notebook and scribbled under a tree bench:
Notebook Entry – December 2, 2004
Anto,It's not about others now. It's about me.They're watching. Waiting. Comparing.One bad game, and they'll say "he's too young." One mistake, and they'll say "bench him."But I don't want easy games. I want the hard ones. The tests. The weight.Valencia this weekend. I won't hide.— Leo
Next Match Preview – La Liga: Barcelona vs. Valencia
Date: December 5, 2004
Location: Camp Nou
League Standings Before Match:
Barcelona – 33 pts – 11W / 0L / 3D
Real Madrid – 32 pts – 10W / 1L / 2D
Valencia – 30 pts – 9W / 2L / 3D
Villarreal – 26 pts – 7W / 3L / 4D