From Messi to Ferdinand, 14 disastrous debuts in football history

A football debut is supposed to be the start of something special. But for some of the game’s biggest names, their first appearances were memorable for all the wrong reasons.

From red cards and costly mistakes to humiliating substitutions, here are 14 of the most disastrous debuts in football history as reported by Planet Football on Monday.

1. Lionel Messi

It is difficult to associate Lionel Messi with failure, but his Argentina debut was anything but perfect.

Messi came off the bench against Hungary in August 2005, only to be sent off just two minutes later after an altercation with defender, Vilmos Vanczak.

The teenage forward was reportedly left in tears in the dressing room. Thankfully, it was hardly a sign of things to come. Messi would go on to become Argentina’s all-time great and eventually captain them to World Cup glory.

2. Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand arrived at Leeds United in 2000 as the world’s most expensive defender, so expectations were enormous.

His debut against Leicester City could hardly have been worse. Leeds conceded three goals in the opening 28 minutes, with Robbie Savage, Ade Akinbiyi and Gerry Taggart all finding the net.

Ferdinand’s career would eventually take him to Manchester United, where he became one of the greatest defenders of his generation. But his Leeds debut was a painful introduction.

3. Jonathan Woodgate

Jonathan Woodgate’s Real Madrid debut remains one of football’s most infamous.

After a lengthy injury absence, the English defender finally made his first appearance for the Spanish giants against Athletic Bilbao. He scored an own goal before being sent off later in the match.

It was an extraordinary beginning to a spell that never developed as Real Madrid had hoped.

4. Abdukodir Khusanov

Abdukodir Khusanov experienced a nightmare introduction to Premier League football against Chelsea.

The Manchester City defender badly misjudged an aerial challenge with Nicolas Jackson before an under-hit header back towards Ederson allowed Chelsea to score.

He was booked shortly afterwards for bringing down Cole Palmer and struggled for confidence before being substituted early in the second half.

City eventually recovered to win 2–1, sparing Khusanov an even more painful debut.

5. Moisés Caicedo

Chelsea’s £115 million signing of Moises Caicedo generated enormous expectations, but his debut against West Ham was a disaster.

Introduced as a substitute, Caicedo struggled to influence the game, made several mistakes and conceded the penalty that sealed Chelsea’s 3–1 defeat.

Fortunately, his Chelsea career improved dramatically. He eventually established himself as one of the Premier League’s outstanding midfielders.

6. Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra went on to become a Manchester United legend, but his first 45 minutes at Old Trafford were brutal.

Making his debut against Manchester City, Evra struggled against Trevor Sinclair and was substituted at half-time.

Sir Alex Ferguson then gave the Frenchman a memorable introduction to the intensity of English football.

Evra later admitted that he wondered what he had got himself into. He ultimately answered that question by winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League with United.

7. Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva’s Chelsea debut against West Bromwich Albion was another difficult afternoon for an otherwise outstanding defender.

Silva lost possession in his own half, allowing Callum Robinson to score. Chelsea conceded three times before half-time.

The Blues eventually fought back to draw 3–3, and Silva went on to become one of Chelsea’s most respected defenders.

8. Joe Cole

Joe Cole’s Liverpool debut lasted just 45 minutes.

The England international was sent off against Arsenal in a fiery encounter in 2010 after a late challenge on Laurent Koscielny.

It was hardly the start Liverpool supporters had imagined for a player who had arrived with considerable expectations.

9. Gervinho

Gervinho’s first appearance for Arsenal ended in controversy.

The Ivorian winger was sent off during a goalless draw against Newcastle United after an altercation with Joey Barton.

Rather than announcing himself with a goal or assist, Gervinho immediately found himself at the centre of a disciplinary storm.

10. Ali Dia

Few debut stories in football are as bizarre as Ali Dia’s.

Southampton brought Dia on during a Premier League match in 1996 after he had convinced the club that he was a professional footballer.

His performance was so unimpressive that he was substituted after a short spell on the pitch.

The episode has since become one of football’s most famous curiosities.

11. Saúl Ñíguez

Saúl arrived at Chelsea on loan from Atlético Madrid in 2021 with a reputation as a high-level midfielder.

His Premier League debut against Aston Villa, however, was a struggle.

He was repeatedly exposed by Villa’s midfield, made a couple of dangerous misplaced passes and was substituted at half-time.

He made only four more league starts during his loan spell.

12. Gaetano Berardi

Gaetano Berardi’s Leeds United debut produced one of the strangest red cards imaginable.

Against Accrington Stanley, the defender launched himself into a remarkable challenge that looked more like a karate kick than a conventional football tackle.

He was dismissed, but the bizarre incident did not prevent him from eventually becoming a cult favourite at Elland Road.

13. Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge joined West Ham in 2011 with the club desperately needing defensive stability.

Instead, his debut against Arsenal turned into a nightmare.

Bridge was involved in the first two Arsenal goals and later conceded a penalty as Arsenal won 3–0.

West Ham ultimately finished bottom of the Premier League, making the result even more painful.

14. Alex Jankewitz

Alex Jankewitz’s Premier League debut was arguably the shortest disaster on this list.

The Southampton midfielder lasted only 79 seconds against Manchester United in February 2021 before being sent off for a dangerous challenge on Scott McTominay.

A first appearance that should have been the beginning of his Premier League career instead ended almost immediately.

A bad debut does not have to define a career.

The common thread running through these stories is that a disastrous debut does not necessarily predict what comes next.

Messi, Ferdinand, Evra, Thiago Silva and Caicedo all went on to enjoy remarkable careers after difficult introductions.

In football, first impressions matter, but they are not always permanent.