UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Matchday 2Date: November 2, 2004Fixture: Manchester United vs. FC BarcelonaVenue: Old Trafford, Manchester.
European Headlines:
"Messi vs. Ronaldo: Youth Clash at the Theatre of Dreams"
"The New Wave Arrives: Two Futures. One Stage."
The Theatre of Dreams
They called it the Theatre of Dreams. For Messi, it looked more like a fortress.
Old Trafford stretched wide and high, the seats climbing into shadows, banners waving red and proud. The home crowd was loud even before kickoff, chanting, singing, stomping the floors in rhythm.
He stood in the tunnel next to Ronaldinho and Eto'o — calm but focused. Across from them, stood a man not much older than Messi, but taller, leaner, styled perfectly:
Cristiano Ronaldo.Smiling, posing, waving to the cameras.Fast. Flashy. Confident.Already a name in England. Already a model. Already a brand.
This wasn't a rivalry.
Not yet.
But it was the first time they shared the same pitch.
The Opening
From the first kick, it was clear: this wasn't like Shakhtar. Manchester United pressed high, aggressively. Scholes snapped at Xavi's heels. Roy Keane barked like a general. Rio Ferdinand tracked Eto'o tightly.
The crowd gave no space, no silence.
But Messi?
He didn't shrink.
He floated.
Early on, Deco fed him a ball near the halfway line. He let it roll across his body, sidestepped O'Shea, and broke forward.
He didn't try anything fancy — not yet. But the movement alone left Old Trafford buzzing.
"That kid…" whispered Gary Neville. "He's fast."
A Game of Styles
Ronaldo dazzled on the other end — stepovers, flicks, and turns that brought the fans to their feet. He whipped in crosses with the outside of his boot, cut inside to test Valdés with two fierce shots.
The press would say later:
"Ronaldo shone like a spotlight.Messi glowed like a fire from within."
The Breakthrough
It came just before halftime.
A throw-in for Barcelona. Belletti to Xavi. A quick one-two with Deco, then a sudden switch across the pitch.
Ronaldinho trapped it on his chest, turned inside, and laid it off to Messi — who was sprinting from the wing.
Messi didn't slow down.
He took one touch, burst past Silvestre, then another to angle his run inside. Ferdinand tried to recover, but Messi's low center of gravity allowed him to cut sharper.
Now the box. Now the keeper.
Messi didn't chip this time.
He slotted it calmly — right foot, far post.
GOAL. 1–0. Barcelona.Messi scores at Old Trafford.
The crowd booed, but many couldn't help but clap — not out loud, but with their hearts. They knew what they had just seen.
Second Half – A Duel Emerges
Ferguson was not amused.
He pulled off Alan Smith, sent on Wayne Rooney — young, hungry, and unpredictable.
Messi and Ronaldo didn't speak. Didn't clash. But they began to outshine each other.
Ronaldo cut in from the left and delivered a rocket from 30 yards — tipped over by Valdés.
Messi answered with a weaving run through three defenders before winning a free kick at the edge of the box.
It was becoming a silent conversation.
I can do this.So can I.
United Strike Back
In the 77th minute, Ronaldo earned a corner after tricking Gio out wide. He trotted over to take it himself. The delivery was perfect — whipped and dipping.
Rooney rose above everyone.
GOAL. 1–1.
The stadium roared as if a cage had been opened.
Barcelona were rattled. For five minutes, they couldn't keep the ball. United pressed harder.
But Rijkaard didn't sub Messi.
He knew something was coming.
The Final Touch
In the 89th minute, Messi received the ball from Xavi just outside the box. He had no room. Silvestre to his left. Neville behind. Ronaldo tracking back.
He tapped it back to Deco — then made a diagonal run into the space.
The pass came — inch-perfect.
Messi took it, lifted his head, saw Eto'o at the near post.
A low pass.
Eto'o met it first time.
GOAL. 2–1. Barcelona.
Game over.
Not with a bang, but a moment of pure footballing intelligence.
Full Time: Manchester United 1 – 2 Barcelona
Barcelona players hugged. Rijkaard smiled, clapped. Ferguson shook his head and walked down the tunnel.
Ronaldo stood at midfield, hands on hips.
He looked over at Messi, who was high-fiving his teammates.
The cameras caught it:One glance.No words.
A seed planted.
A story beginning.
Notebook Entry – November 2, 2004
Anto,That stadium felt like a mountain. But I climbed it.I didn't outshine anyone. I just did what I came here to do.People are saying things — about me, about him. But I'm not trying to be better than anyone.I'm just trying to be myself. Every time. Every game.—Leo
Champions League Group Stage – After Matchday 2:
Barcelona – 6 pts – 4 GF / 2 GA
Manchester United – 3 pts – 3 GF / 2 GA
Shakhtar Donetsk – 0 pts – 1 GF / 5 GA
Anderlecht – 0 pts – 1 GF / 4 GA