As a result, Messi displayed technical ease and had above-average physical abilities, which quickly caught the eye of the big teams in the region.
[2][3][4] In 2020, Messi moved to the Clairefontaine academy, showing impressive technical qualities leading to numerous French clubs attempting to sign him.
[3][4] Impressing in the youth ranks, Messi was promoted to Dijon's reserves side and made his Championnat National 3 debut in August 2023 at the age of 16.
In March 2024, he scored a brace to help France U17 win 2–1 against England as part of the Euro U17 Elite Round, thus qualify his team to the final tournament.
[12] Messi's coach at Versailles, Matthieu Merle, praised him for “his strength, his explosiveness and his ability to make differences in one-on-one situations”.