When Lionel Messi played for West Ham U21: “What are you doing in Romford?”

Lionel Messi may not have many memories of November 11, 2014, but the former West Ham star was quiet that day.

This week marks the tenth birthday of the Inter Miami striker – an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, world champion and top scorer for both clubs. Spain and the Argentine national team – during a training match played by Oeste. . Under-21 ham.

Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano (two West Ham boys), Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María and others were there with Messi and before the international friendly against Croatia two days later at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham’s home stadium at the time to play . Among those who were against each other was Sebastien Lletjet, who is now 32 years old and who also plays in the MLS with FC Dallas.

“I’ll never forget seeing Messi, Tevez, Di María and others fall from the coach saying, ‘What are you doing in Romford?'” “Messi went around the whole team and we had no chance fight him. No one wanted to be blamed for hurting Messi.

“I have Argentinian parents, from Buenos Aires and La Plata. The coaches found out and brought me in to talk to some of the players. My only regret is that I was too shy to ask for pictures. As soon as I got home, I started to regret it. I didn’t want to bother them, but I had to.

“They attacked us hard in the game. “They didn’t care that we were only 17 or 18.”

Although Messi and company eventually won the World Cup, their 1-0 extra-time loss to Germany in 2014 in this year’s World Cup final was still fresh in their minds, just four months earlier.

Messi was 27 years old when he played against West Ham’s youth team. Last season he scored 41 goals in 46 games for Barcelona. And it was an average year by his impressive standards at the time, with 53 goals in 2010-11, 73 in 2011-12 and 60 in 2012-13.

Josh Paskey, 27, who now plays for New Saints in the Welsh League, laughs as he talks about a video that has gone viral of him running with Messi.

“I remember Messi taking the ball to the right and going past me and four other defenders,” he said. “I started laughing. Then he reaches our goal. I was a ‘thinking: “Wow, Messi is running towards me.” It was amazing to see what he did on TV, so it was a first experience.

“One of my teammates asked me recently, ‘Who is the best player you’ve ever played against?’ I told him: “You’re not going to believe it, but it’s Messi.” Then I told him about the day I played against him. Yes, I explained to him. A few days later the video went viral and I sent it to him.

“The funny thing about that day is that we were training and the director of our academy, Terry Westley, said, ‘Argentina’s first team are training against us.’ My response was, ‘Is this a joke?’

“The club wanted to keep it a secret because they knew people would flood the area. (But) It was open and there were a lot of people outside the training area. When we arrived at Rush Green (West Ham’s training ground), I lost count of the number of security guards I saw.

“All the kids just wanted to talk to the players and take pictures with them. That’s the day we all became fans. We were going to play with Messi, Tevez and all these great players. We were afraid of them, especially Messi. .

“We couldn’t get close to the ball. Messi, Agüero and Di María left and then Tevez, (Gonzalo) Higuaín and (Ezequiel) Lavezzi entered. They signed world class players and brought in world class players. I will always remember that. The quality was great. The other day we played with his subscribers and them “He scored six goals in 20 minutes.”

Kieran Sadlier, 30, who is now a midfielder for League One side Wycombe Wanderers, remembers that it was not easy for Argentina. “At first I thought it would be the Argentine under-21 team,” he said. “Then I looked at their team online and saw that it was a good team.

“It was a night game, we trained in the morning and everyone at West Ham wanted to see Messi. No one cared about the other players. His manager (Tata Martino) wanted about an hour of proper play.

“I played on the right wing and I thought they were taking us lightly. I remember a dribble and the center back (Federico) Fazio broke my ankle. I was like, ‘Shit, I didn’t think that was true.’ .” We could not fight them because we would be in trouble.

“I passed the ball for one of their goals and Messi scored. Maybe my best help! I was able to take a picture with Messi but I wish I had his shirt. They told us not to worry, but it’s hard to do that, when “Messi is the best player of all time.”

Ben Marlow also took part in that practice game.

Now 29, he was released by West Ham in 2015 and played for a number of non-league clubs in the London area before retiring in June due to an ongoing knee injury. Although he has a new career, nothing can surpass the events of that night in November 2014.

“I thought it was a shock, but when I saw Messi I knew it was real,” said Marlowe. “The whole experience was surreal.

“The ‘pinch me’ moment. I remember they brought Agüero, Messi and Di María. I thought, ‘I can finally breathe.’ Then Tevez, (Javier) Pastore and (Eric) Lamela entered the field. The quality was great. There were about seven security guards around Messi and I couldn’t get close to him.

“At the local school they found out that Messi was at the training camp. Some of the children tried to climb through the door. It was a crazy night and the best moment of my career.

“No one believes me when I play against Messi. I’m a gardener now and when I mention it, people often say ‘you’re talking rubbish’. But when I show them the pictures, they say, ‘Wow, you’ve really got it.’ It’s a moment that will stay with me forever. Messi was the best thing I have ever seen in my life.

After great performances in Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi joined Inter Miami of Major League Soccer in July 2023. Last Saturday, the 37-year-old team lost 3-2 in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. Atlanta United in the decisive game of the best-of-three series. For Lletget, facing him in MLS was a chance to make up for what happened a decade ago in East London.

“I played against Messi at FC Dallas,” he said. “It was special to compete in a real game. After the game, I finally caught up with him. I took my picture! “It’s been a blast for me and I’ll always cherish another moment.”