<Table> Lionel Messi <Tr> <Td colspan="4"> Messi with Barcelona in December 2016 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="4"> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Full name </Th> <Td colspan="3"> Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date of birth </Th> <Td colspan="3"> ( 1987 - 06 - 24 ) 24 June 1987 ( age 30 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Place of birth </Th> <Td colspan="3"> Rosario , Argentina </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Height </Th> <Td colspan="3"> 1.70 m ( 5 ft 7 in ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Playing position </Th> <Td colspan="3"> Forward </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="4"> Club information </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Current team </Th> <Td colspan="3"> Barcelona </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Number </Th> <Td colspan="3"> 10 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="4"> Youth career </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1994 -- 2000 </Th> <Td colspan="3"> Newell 's Old Boys </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2001 -- 2004 </Th> <Td colspan="3"> Barcelona </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="4"> Senior career * </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years </Th> <Td> Team </Td> <Td> Apps </Td> <Td> ( Gls ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2003 -- 2004 </Th> <Td> Barcelona C </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> ( 5 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2004 -- 2005 </Th> <Td> Barcelona B </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> ( 6 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2004 -- </Th> <Td> Barcelona </Td> <Td> 414 </Td> <Td> ( 378 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="4"> National team </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2004 -- 2005 </Th> <Td> Argentina U20 </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> ( 14 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2008 </Th> <Td> Argentina U23 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> ( 2 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2005 -- </Th> <Td> Argentina </Td> <Td> 123 </Td> <Td> ( 61 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="4"> Honours ( show ) <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="3"> Representing Argentina </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="3"> Olympic Games </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2008 Beijing </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="3"> FIFA World Cup </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2014 Brazil </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="3"> Copa América </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2007 Venezuela </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2015 Chile </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2016 United States </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="3"> South American U-20 Championship </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2005 Colombia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="3"> FIFA U-20 World Cup </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2005 Netherlands </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="4"> * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 April 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2017 </Td> </Tr> </Table>
when did lionel messi play his first game for barcelona
2001