The Most Impressive Debuts in Sports History
Lionel Messi's debut for Inter Miami CF was highly anticipated and the football world was glued to their screens as they watched him play his first game. Messi was subbed on in the 54th minute of Inter Miami's Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul, and scored from a free kick to win the game in stoppage time, earning Inter Miami their first win in 6 games. This got us thinking about other sports legends who have made their mark with an unforgettable debut. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most impressive sports debuts of all time.
Auston Matthews' debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs was a record-setting one. On October 12, 2016, Matthews became the first player in 100 years to score four goals in his NHL debut. The 19-year-old showed incredible skill and determination as he helped his team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, secure an impressive 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators. This performance set the bar for Matthews' NHL career, and he has continued to impress, accumulating a number of accolades since his debut.
Another memorable sports debut was that of LeBron James. In 2003, the young basketball player was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He came into the league as the most hyped up prospect of all time, heavy expectations weighing on his shoulders, and he delivered. In his first game, James showed incredible talent and led his team to victory against the Sacramento Kings. He scored 25 points, had 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, setting the tone for what would become an incredible NBA career. For many, including his former teammates and opponents, this debut gave glimpses of what would be the greatest basketball player of all time.
In football, we can't talk about impressive debuts without mentioning Ronaldinho. He transferred to the club in 2003 for 30 million euros, and is one of the club's greatest legends, winning the Champions League and Ballon d'Or. He scored the La Liga goal of the season, an incredible solo run capped off by an stunning long shot in his home debut at the Camp Nou, but it was under unusual circumstances. Due to international break and Ronaldinho playing for Brazil against Ecuador the same day as his home debut, Barcelona looked to reschedule the game. When that proved fruitless, they decided to move the start time to midnight. They provided catering (including 100,000 Kit-Kats) to a crowd of 80,000 that was dazzled by the most spectacular goal and player of the season on his home debut.
Moving on to tennis, we have to highlight the debut of Rafael Nadal. Nadal made his professional debut at just 15 years old, playing against Ramon Delgado at the Mallorca Championships. Despite being a relative unknown at the time, Nadal showcased his impressive skills and went on to win his next match, securing his first ATP Tour win. Nadal's debut was a sign of great things to come, as he went on to become one of the greatest tennis players of all time, winning multiple Grand Slam titles and Olympic medals.
We can't forget to mention Michael Jordan's debut when discussing impressive sports debuts. In 1984, Michael Jordan made his NBA debut with the Chicago Bulls, recording an impressive 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists against the Washington Bullets. He also recorded 4 blocks and 2 steals, illustrating his thorough skillset. Throughout his illustrious NBA career, Jordan set records and cemented himself as a basketball legend, many considering him to be the greatest of all time.
Lionel Messi's debut was highly anticipated, stars turning up to see the biggest star of the biggest sport, and delivered with a game-winning free kick. From Auston Matthews' record-setting four-goal debut to Rafael Nadal's impressive ATP Tour win at just 15 years old, we've highlighted some of the most memorable sports debuts of all time. These incredible performances set the tone for the careers of some of the greatest athletes of all time. While not always reflective of the career one may lead, it is exciting to see into the future of sports through these games, and relive some of the most magical debut performances.