From Messi to Khusanov: The most unsuccessful football debuts

Making a strong first impression is crucial in any field, and football is no exception. Yet, even the most talented players sometimes stumble under pressure, leading to a debut that falls far short of expectations. Here, we look at some of the most notable cases of players—both legends and rising stars—whose first games didn’t go as planned.

Moises Caicedo

Chelsea secured Moises Caicedo for a record-breaking £115 million transfer fee, beating Liverpool in the process. This made him the most expensive signing in Premier League history. However, Caicedo's debut against West Ham was far from ideal. The Ecuadorian midfielder committed multiple errors during the game, including conceding a penalty that sealed Chelsea's defeat. Despite this rocky start, Caicedo bounced back later in the 2024/25 season to become one of the league’s standout midfielders.

Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva, now a celebrated figure in Chelsea's modern history, also endured a rough introduction to English football. In his first match against West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea's defense crumbled, conceding two goals in the first half. Silva was widely criticized as the weakest link in the backline. However, the team's spirited second-half comeback—fueled by goals from Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Tammy Abraham—overshadowed his poor performance and allowed him to rebuild his reputation.

Lionel Messi

Even one of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi, endured an unfortunate debut for the Argentina national team. In a friendly match against Hungary, Messi was brought on as a substitute in the 63rd minute. However, his debut quickly turned sour when he was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident involving Hungarian player Vilmos Vanczák. The young winger left the pitch in tears. Despite this early setback, Messi went on to build a legendary career, solidifying his place in football history.

Abdukodir Khusanov

Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who gained recognition for his impressive performances with Lens and attracted attention from top European clubs, recently joined Manchester City. The young talent was given a chance to start in a Premier League clash against Chelsea on January 26.  

Unfortunately, Khusanov's debut was marred by early mistakes. In just the second minute, a misdirected pass to goalkeeper Ederson led to a goal. Moments later, he received a yellow card for a foul on Chelsea's Cole Palmer. Despite his struggles, Khusanov played until the 52nd minute, when he was substituted by John Stones.  

City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his confidence in Khusanov's abilities, emphasizing that the substitution was not solely due to his errors.  

"I did not replace Abdukodir because of his mistakes. He is a strong player, and I trust him. I simply replaced him with Stones because he had a yellow card," Guardiola said.  

Khusanov's potential and Guardiola's support suggest that he will adapt and grow stronger in the highly competitive Premier League.