Lionel Messi is the name of a magician in the world of football. With the magic of his left foot, Argentina won their third World Cup. But if you turn the pages of history, you will see that this Messi might not have worn the sky-white jersey of Argentina today! He could have been the star of Spain. But with the dedicated efforts, patriotism and foresight of a man, Messi chose his homeland Argentina instead of Spain. That behind-the-scenes craftsman, a dedicated soul of Argentine football, Omar Souto No longer among us.
The historic manager of the Argentina national team passed away on Sunday (November 23, 2025) at the age of 73. The death of Sauto, who had been associated with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for more than three decades, has cast a shadow of grief over the football world. In today's special report, we will learn how Omar Sauto discovered Messi, how he ignored the temptation of Spain to give Messi the opportunity to play in the Argentina jersey, and why he was known as a 'second father' to the Albiceleste team.
Omar Souto: The end of a colorful chapter
Omar Sauto was a long-time loyal soldier of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). He was the manager of the national team and held various administrative positions for more than 30 years. He was also given a special honor at an awards ceremony last month. But as per the rules, he left this world without having the thread of that honor cut short.
The AFA said in an emotional statement:
“"It is with deep sorrow and sadness that we announce the passing of Omar Sauto, the historic manager of the Argentina national team. Thank you, Omar. We are forever grateful to you for your unwavering commitment, humanity and idealistic character towards the Albiceleste."”
Sauto was not just an official, he was a companion to the players in joy and sorrow. From Maradona to Messi, he had a soulful relationship with everyone.
Historical context: When Spain wanted to snatch Messi
The incident took place in the early 2000s. Lionel Messi had left Argentina at the age of 13 and moved to Barcelona, Spain. His talent was spreading rapidly at the La Masia academy. The Spanish Football Federation did not make a mistake in recognizing this gem. They made all kinds of offers to give Messi Spanish citizenship and play for the Spanish national team.
At that time, Argentine football officials didn't know much about Messi because he was far away, playing in the academy of a club in Europe. This is where Omar Souto came to the rescue.
That phone call and the search for Messi: An exciting expedition
In a 2021 interview with TyC Sports, Souto described the historical event, which even rivals the plot of a movie.
That tournament in Nigeria
Sauto said the incident happened during the Under-20 World Cup in Nigeria. The Argentina team and the Spain team were staying in the same hotel. One day, a member of the Spanish coaching staff poked Sauto and said:
“"Why didn't you bring that boy from Barcelona (Messi) into your team? Believe me, he's much better than anyone else in your current team."”
At that time, the Argentine youth team featured stars like Javier Mascherano, Fernando Cavenaghi and Maxi Lopez. Still, the mention of the Spanish coach made Souto feel uncomfortable.
Phonebook pages and the 'Leonardo' confusion
Upon returning to Buenos Aires, the then youth team coach Hugo Tocali tasked Sauto with finding the boy. The problem was, Sauto didn't know Messi's full name. Since everyone called him 'Leo', Sauto thought his name might be 'Leonardo'.
Souto says:
“"I went to a phone booth in Monte Grande. I opened the telephone directory for the city of Rosario and started looking for the number of the family with the name 'Messi'. I didn't have the internet or social media at the time."‘
Grandma to Dad: Finally Communication
Sauto started calling the numbers he found in the phone book one by one. 1. First he called Messi's grandmother. The grandmother gave him the number of Messi's uncle. 2. After talking to the uncle, he finally got the number of Messi's father, Jorge Messi, who was in Spain at the time.
Messi's patriotism: "Finally, you called!"“
The most emotional moment was when Sauto spoke to Messi's father. When he told Jorge Messi that the Argentina national team wanted Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi's response was one of relief. He said:
“"Finally, you called! My son is sitting here playing for the Argentina national team. He doesn't want to play for Spain."”
Messi had the opportunity to play for Spain. But it was because of that phone call and initiative from Omar Souto that Messi decided to play for his homeland. The rest is history. That little Leo is now a world champion, the greatest footballer of all time.
Messi's emotional farewell message
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi couldn't contain himself after hearing the news of Omar Souto's death. Sharing a photo with Souto holding the Qatar World Cup trophy, he wrote on Instagram:
“Omar, you were always there for us. You were the man who first guided the AFA to look at me. An extraordinary man—one who is impossible to forget, especially for those of us who had the opportunity to be around him in the national team. We will never forget you. Rest in peace.”
This message proves that Souto was not just a manager, he was one of the biggest guardians of Messi's career.
Legacy: The 'second father' of players‘
Omar Sauto was like a 'second father' not only to Messi, but to generations of Argentine footballers. During the camp, he would listen to the players' personal problems, meet their needs and keep them mentally strong - all this he did in private.
When everyone was in a state of jubilation after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi himself called Sauto to touch the trophy. What greater achievement could there be for Sauto? He has seen in his lifetime that the boy he found in the phone book is the one who made Argentina the best in the world.
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Conclusion:
In football history, the names of goal scorers and coaches are written in golden letters. But behind-the-scenes heroes like Omar Souto often remain hidden. But without Souto's efforts, Messi might still be wearing the Spain jersey, and Argentina's World Cup drought might not have ended even today.
Omar Sauto's contribution to Argentine football cannot be measured by any trophy. As long as Argentina's sky-blue and white jersey exists, as long as Messi's name is spoken, Omar Sauto's name will also be immortalized in the pages of history.
Farewell, Omar Souto. The world will remember you for this magical football story.
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