'Before becoming the great benchmark of Barcelona, Leo Messi was the newcomer to a dressing room ruled by Ronaldinho. The Brazilian welcomed him and helped him find his place among the stars. From that time together, there are also stories off the pitch. One of them has just come to light through Mario "El Mono" Osuna, who shared a team with the Brazilian at Querétaro.'

'During a conversation about football on the program "La Granja VIP", the former Mexican player recalled an alleged initiation prank on the Argentine. According to his account, Ronaldinho had told him that several Barça footballers went out partying one night and ended up putting a motorcycle helmet on Messi that they had taken from outside the venue.'

Osuna said that the "helmet had been stolen" and that the Argentine wore it during the outing. This is a second-hand version: the Mexican recounts what, according to him, Ronaldinho told him. The account does not specify when it happened or which other players took part.

The anecdote turns the spotlight back on a Messi who was still making his way. The young La Masia player lived alongside established footballers and had Ronaldinho as his main role model. The Brazilian was the team's star; the Argentine was beginning to show the talent that would end up changing the club's history.

The pass that started it all

The image that best explains that connection is on the pitch. Messi's first official goal with Barcelona came after an assist from Ronaldinho: a chipped ball over the Albacete defense that the Argentine finished with a lob.

As time went by, that play took on a special meaning. The footballer leading Barça had set up the ball for the first goal of the one who would end up taking over from him. The celebration, with Messi on the Brazilian's back, left behind a photograph inseparable from their beginnings.

His relationship was also built in the day-to-day life of the dressing room. Ronaldinho accompanied the breakthrough of a teammate who still had to earn his place and seemed to quickly sense how far he could go.

'Maxi López, who played with both of them at Barcelona, said that the Brazilian made a confession to him about that young player: "This kid is better than me." An especially striking assessment because it came from a Ronaldinho who was at the top.'