Lionel Messi

Long before the shaved sides and the tucked-in beard, there was the version of Messi fans across South Asia affectionately nicknamed the "Ankara Messi" — a nod to his wild, curly, headband-tied hair during his early Barcelona years. This 2008 card captures that exact era. Still deployed as a right winger under manager Frank Rijkaard rather than the free-roaming false-9 role he'd later inherit under Pep Guardiola, Messi produced 10 goals and 12 assists in La Liga that season, adding another 8 goals in the Champions League as Barcelona pushed all the way to the semi-finals before falling to Manchester United. The club walked away trophyless that year, but Messi's individual rise was unmistakable — and by August 2008, wearing that same long hair, he'd captain-less but central to Argentina's Olympic gold medal run in Beijing.

The card's attributes reflect a player who was already frighteningly quick but not yet the complete, all-position dictator he'd become. A 91 Speed and 94 Acceleration show why defenders simply couldn't contain him one-on-one down the right flank, while a 94 Control and 89 Shooting hint at the close dribbling and clinical finishing that were already fully formed. Interestingly, his 87 Passing was already elite even in this winger-heavy role, foreshadowing the creative playmaker he'd morph into once Guardiola moved him centrally. A 77 Stamina and 60 Strength paint the picture of a slight, 170 cm left-footed teenager who relied on burst and balance rather than physicality — and a 35 Tackling makes clear defending was never part of the job description.

At an 84 overall rating, this "Ankara Messi" card sits as a snapshot of pure, unrefined potential rather than the finished product later cards would represent. He's built almost entirely around speed, dribbling and shot quality, with the passing numbers offering an early clue of the playmaking genius still to come. For anyone chasing a nostalgic, RW-specific Messi rather than the more famous CF versions, this 2008 edition remains one of the most historically interesting cards in the entire DLS lineup.