Sixteen years on, Messi continues to amaze Barcelona Made his debut on November 16, 2003

Lionel Messi still hasn't stopped amazing the football world. Just as he did 16 years ago, on November 16, 2003, when the Argentine debuted with Barcelona's first team, he keeps on making headlines.

That first appearance came in a friendly under Frank Rijkaard, with the Blaugrana taking on Jose Mourinho's Porto to open the Estadio do Dragao.

The Dutchman paid attention to Barcelona's underage categories and had noticed the teenager, trusting him to make the leap to the first team, though he had to wait until October 16, 2004, for his official first-team debut.

Messi demonstrated again on Friday night just how good he still is, helping Argentina to beat Brazil 1-0.

Sixteen years ago, Messi wore a first-team shirt for the first time, with the No.14 on his back, and it didn't take him long to become the world's best.

"We're talking about a genius," Luis Enrique said of him.

"He's the best I've ever seen and probably will see," Pep Guardiola added.

"I'll tell my grandchildren that I coached him."

"I grew up watching [Diego] Maradona," added ex-Chelsea midfielder and current Blues coach Frank Lampard, "he was my favourite player, but Messi is the best every year."

Arsene Wenger, too, heaped praise on him by calling him a "PlayStation player," but the list of Messi's admirers is long.

Since that debut, he's broken all records. He's won 10 LaLiga Santander titles, six Copas del Rey, four Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, eight Supercopas de Espana, five Ballon d'Ors, six Golden Boots and six Pichichis.

Now, at 32, Messi continues to dominate world football.