Messi: The Forgotten Tape, ESPN's documentary on Lionel Messi, available on Disney+

Messi: The Forgotten Tape is now streaming on Disney+ from June 9, 2026. Produced by ESPN Films, this short documentary revisits an obscure chapter in Lionel Messi's journey to the Argentine national team.

Messi: The Forgotten Tape
Short documentary film | 2026
Available on Disney+
Documentary, sports, soccer
Produced by ESPN Films
Starring Lionel Messi
Original title: Messi: The Forgotten Tape

The documentary zeros in on a decisive moment in Lionel Messi’s international career. In 2004, as the young star starts turning heads at FC Barcelona, his performances are still slow to circulate to Argentina, at a time when online videos don’t yet play the role they would a few years later.

At 16, Lionel Messi is regarded as a major prospect in Spain. The Argentine federation wonders about this player born in Argentina, developed at Barcelona, and also eligible for Spanish citizenship. The documentary explains how a VHS tape compiling his best moments is commissioned from a journalist at Barça TV.

This cassette is then handed to an assistant coach of the Argentine national team, with a clear objective: to spark Lionel Messi's first call-up. The video, which has become central to the documentary’s narrative, is said to have helped speed up a major sporting decision between Spain and Argentina.

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Messi: The Forgotten Tape revisits how quickly the Argentine Football Federation organized two friendly matches to persuade Lionel Messi to wear Argentina’s colors. The film presents this episode as one of the quiet yet decisive stories of modern football.

This short-format series may appeal to Disney+ subscribers who follow sports documentaries, football archives, and profiles of players with remarkable international careers. It also targets viewers curious to understand how decisions made early in a career can shape the long-term history of a player and a national team.

Disney+ also notes that its parental controls let you restrict access to content by age, with PIN-locked profiles and junior profiles for younger viewers.

To go further, also check out our guide to the Disney+ June releases, our pick of the new streaming titles across all platforms, and our guide What to watch today on streaming.

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