Messi's Debut: A Young Star Shines in Barcelona

This: a 17-year-old kid from Argentina steps onto the field for his first big game in Europe. That's exactly what happened on this day in 2004. Lionel Messi made his league debut for FC Barcelona against their city rivals, Espanyol. It was a big moment, and Messi didn't disappoint. Barcelona won 1-0, and a star was born. But let's not forget other historic moments in sports. Back in 1897, Michigan beat Ohio State 34-0 in their first-ever meeting. That rivalry is still going strong today! In 1909, boxing legend Jack Johnson defended his heavyweight title by knocking out Stanley Ketchel in the 12th round. Fast forward to 1946, and a young hockey player named Gordie Howe scored his first NHL goal and got into a couple of fights in his debut game. Not a bad start! In 1964, Babe Parilli threw for an impressive 422 yards and four touchdowns in a tie game against the Oakland Raiders. The 1970s saw some incredible feats too. In 1971, Norm Ullman became the fourth NHL player to reach 1,000 points. A few years later, in 1977, the Denver Broncos intercepted seven passes in one game! And who can forget the 1987 when Mike Tyson retained his heavyweight title? Let's not forget about college sports. In 1999, Virginia Tech gave Syracuse a record-setting 62-0 shutout. That's a tough day for any team! And in 2004, Mount Union set a new record with its 100th consecutive regular-season victory. Sports is full of amazing stories. From young stars like Messi to legendary boxers like Johnson, every game has a tale to tell.