Glasgow Rangers were no strangers to signing players from Barcelona in the early 2000s, paying big money for Mikel Arteta and Ronald de Boer.

However, those at Ibrox nearly brought in Lionel Messi from the Catalan giants before he broke into the first-team picture at the Nou Camp.

The Argentina icon is rightly recognised as one of the best footballers to ever play the game and hasn’t looked back since making his senior Barcelona debut at the age of 17 in 2004. He spent 17 years with Barcelona before signing for Paris Saint-Germain and then Inter Miami.

Ballon d’Or

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023

World Cup

2022

Copa America

2021, 2024

Champions League

2006, 2009, 2011, 2015

La Liga

2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

Ligue 1

2022, 2023

Uefa Super Cup

2009, 2011, 2015

Club World Cup

2010, 2012, 2016

Copa del Rey

2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021

Spanish Super Cup

2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018

Supporters’ Shield

2024

MLS League Cup

2023

Olympic Gold Medal

2008

French Super Cup

2022

Messi has won everything there is to win in the game, including eight Ballon d’Or awards, and he finally claimed World Cup glory with his country in 2022.

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However, things could have been so different for the magician, if those in Glasgow got their way.

How Rangers nearly signed Messi from Barcelona

As per a report from Goal, Rangers actually made enquiries to sign Messi on loan from Barcelona prior to his senior debut. Unfortunately, those efforts were turned down by those at the Nou Camp, but it was Alex McLeish’s son, Jon, who found Messi.

Talking on Graham Hunter’s The Big Interview podcast in 2017, McLeish went into detail on how his son’s love of Football Manager alerted him to Messi in 2003, with Rangers on the search for a replacement for Barry Ferguson.

Jon’s prediction of Messi becoming the greatest in the world was accurate, showing the powers Football Manager can have in real life.