KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Two decades before Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy as a champion, his former Argentina coach Jose Pekerman made a calculated decision to bring a nervous 18-year-old off the bench during a match that was already well in hand — and he did it with a clear purpose in mind.
With Argentina cruising to what would become a 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen, Pekerman introduced Messi in the 75th minute. He wasn’t simply giving a talented youngster some field time. In his mind, he was setting the foundation for what he believed would be one of soccer’s all-time great careers.
The teenager wasted no time justifying that belief. Within minutes of entering the match, Messi assisted Hernan Crespo on a goal and then scored himself, becoming the youngest Argentine ever to find the net at a World Cup.
Despite criticism for limiting Messi’s playing time throughout the tournament, Pekerman insists the approach was never about padding a scoreline. Each appearance, no matter how short, was part of a broader strategy to prepare the young player for the unique pressures of the world’s biggest soccer stage.
