16 years to Lionel Messi's Official FC Barcelona Debut.

When a young Lionel Messi made his official debut for FC Barcelona on October 16, 2004, no one had envisaged what the little Argentinian would go on to achieve.

Football would never be the same again.

A new chapter in FC Barcelona’s chapter was about to be written – a chapter of outrageous genius, dazzling performances, and never-seen-before talent. While many herald him as a footballing god, and I do not blame them, I simply look up to him as the kid from Rosario, who loves to play football. For many around the world, Messi is an enigma - a footballing force that on its day, impossible to contain. From the majestic leap to head past Edwin Van der Saar in the 2009 Champions League final, tormenting Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in the 2011 final, leaving Jerome Boateng in a heap and Manuel Neuer grasping for thin air in the 2015 Champions League final, to a “physics-defying” goal against Athletic Bilbao in the 2015 Copa del Ray final, Lionel Messi has provided his fans with moments that they will probably never experience again.

Moreover, it is not just the trickeries, the genius passes, and the eagle-like vision, Messi’s stats are staggering, to say the least. He has bagged 635 goals in 734 games for the Catalan club. His trophy cabinet with Barca boasts of:

6 x Ballon D’or awards.

2 x UEFA Best Player in Europe awards.

6 x The Best FIFA Men’s player.

4 x Champions League titles.

8 x Spanish Super Cup titles.

10 x La Liga titles.

3 x FIFA Club World Cup titles.

6 x Spanish Cup titles.

3 x UEFA Super Cup titles.

In addition to these, he holds numerous golden boot awards and assists records, which are nearly impossible to emulate. For me, Messi is beyond statistics and numbers. Messi is poetry. For millions worldwide, seeing him play is seeing genius at work. He makes passes no one sees, he puts on moves no one thought of. The world seems a bit better when Messi plays and time seems to stop for the brief moment he touches the ball. It is almost like even the gods' pause for a moment to witness the artistry and flair. Beyond the numbers, beyond the statistics, Messi will remain a source of inspiration for as long as he is on the pitch, a source of constant fear for those facing him and a sight worth leaving everything for. Whenever I have felt my club is in trouble, one man has been the savior. He is a force that you can sure as hell plan for, but can still never contain.

Lionel Messi is a once in a lifetime phenomenon - Unrivalled, Unreachable, Unparalleled. A player that makes you feel lucky to have witnessed his mesmerizing genius, and his sheer artistry, year in year out. The best that there was, the best that there is, and the best that there ever will be.