Fabrizio Cavegn reflects on his footballing journey, looking back at playing football in Switzerland and idolising Lionel Messi in the latest instalment of Football Firsts.
The striker began his career at FCO Südostschweiz and Chur 97 before switching to Swiss Super League side St. Gallen in 2021. He played four times for the senior side but thumped in goals for their second team before moving to Vaduz in 2023.
The 24-year-old played 86 times for the Residents across all competitions, netting 37 times and winning the Liechtenstein Football Cup twice, qualifying the club for European football.
Cavegn then moved to the Gas ahead of the 2025/26 season and netted 15 goals in the blue-and-white quarters, including a hat-trick away to Shrewsbury Town.
Looking back on his time in football so far, Cavegn shared his football firsts...
What was the first pair of football boots you ever had?
"I am not sure, but the ones I can remember were the Adidas F50s with the chip underneath. They were nice."
What was the first kit you ever had?
"It was a Barcelona one with Messi. My dad was already a Barcelona fan. He bought me the Barcelona shirt; I think it was away in Italy on holiday at the beach."
What was the first football team that you played for?
"It was a football team back in my town in Switzerland, and it was not professional. It was just for fun that we started playing, and we kept doing it."
What was your first football memory?
"The first thing would be playing football with my brother. We played on the pitch next to the school, and we played all the time. We pushed each other all the time."
What was the first live match you ever attended?
"It was when I went with my dad and my brother to an FC Basel game in Switzerland. I think it was a big game against Zurich, but I am not sure."
Who was your first football idol?
"Messi. It is magic what he is doing on the pitch. My dad was a Barcelona fan, and I started watching Barca games with him. He spoke all the time about Messi, about how he would be one of the best or the best."
What was the first piece of advice you were given?
"It was an old manager that I had back in my little town in Switzerland, and he just said that if you fight every day and if you really want to play football, then you can be a football player one day."
Who was your first friend in football?
"I would say, my brother. He plays in Switzerland. I don't get to watch him live, but I watch the highlights when he scores or gets an assist. I see it all the time, or he sends it to me.
"When we get holidays, we finish around the start of May, and they play again at the start of June, then I get time to watch him."
Can you remember the first time you were ever recognised in public?
"I think it was also back home when I walked through the city, and there were a few kids who said to their parents, 'This is Fab'. Then they came to me, we spoke a little bit and took a selfie. That was it."
