Lionel Messi revealed a Newell's Old Boys kit with Diego Maradona's No. 10 on the back after scoring a stunning goal for Barcelona on Sunday.
It was a fitting tribute from one Argentinian legend to another as Messi played his first match since Maradona passed away aged 60 on Wednesday.
Messi also looked up to the screen showing his picture at the Nou Camp and raised both hands in the air.
The 33-year-old's goal was Barcelona's fourth goal in a 4-0 victory over Osasuna, with Martin Braithwwaite, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho also on the scoresheet.
Newell's Old Boys was one of Maradona's former clubs - as well as Barcelona of course - while Messi was also on their books as a youngster before joining the Catalan giants.
Barca had paid tribute before kick-off to Maradona, who played for the Catalan club from 1982 to 1984, hanging a framed, signed shirt of his above the presidential box.
Players held a minute's silence in front of an old Barcelona shirt bearing the number 10.
A special goal and a special celebration from Lionel Messi, who pays tribute to Diego Maradona after scoring for Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/z8DNniMsrC
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) November 29, 2020
Griezmann created Barca’s first chance of the encounter, crossing to Coutinho who was poised to tap the ball in but saw his effort blocked on the line by defender Unai Garcia.
France international Griezmann pushed forwards again minutes later and produced a long-range shot, but goalkeeper Sergio Herrera anticipated the danger and made a neat save.
Barcelona became increasingly threatening as Griezmann unleashed another shot, this time curling just wide of the post, and Coutinho also tested Herrera with an effort that was well blocked.
Braithwaite broke the deadlock after 29 minutes, linking up with Coutinho and forcing Herrera into a double save before finally finding the back of the net with his third attempt.
Ten minutes later Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to fend off two shots from Oier Sanjurjo and Garcia before an effort from Ante Budimir crossed the line, but there was an offside in the prior passage of play and the goal was quickly ruled out.
Instead it was the hosts who scored the next goal three minutes before the break, with Jordi Alba’s cross cleared by Jon Moncayola before Griezmann intercepted and volleyed superbly past a helpless Herrera.
Moncayola then attempted his own volley in the second minute of first-half added time, but his effort swung off target and failed to worry Ter Stegen.
Shortly after the break Frenkie De Jong was handed a chance to provide Barca’s third goal when Messi crossed, but the Dutchman could not find the target with his header.
Coutinho made it 3-0 in the 57th minute when he laid off to Braithwaite before running into the box and tapping in from Griezmann’s unselfish pass.
The former Liverpool man was then replaced by Ousmane Dembele, who quickly hit his stride when collecting a Francisco Trincao ball and producing what looked to be Barca’s fourth goal, but the effort was disallowed after a VAR review identified offside in the build-up.
The hosts did not have to wait long for another goal, though, with Messi unleashing an unstoppable strike which flew past Herrera in the 73rd minute.
The goal moved Messi to 641 goals for Barca – within two of equalling Pele’s record tally for one club – and he marked the strike with his Maradona tribute.
The hosts threatened to add a fifth goal as time ran out, Dembele finding the side-netting and Messi pushing Herrera into an impressive save after a free-kick, but neither shot hit the mark.
Osasuna were unable to make any impact at the other end and the final whistle blew on an emphatic home win.
