Alan Ruschel was one of just six people to survive the plane crash in November that claimed the lives 71 people on board, including 19 Chapecoense soccer players and staff.
For the first time since the tragedy, the 27-year-old who had surgery to repair a spinal cord injury, returned to the field against Barcelona SC on Monday night.
Ruschel played the first 35 minutes of the match before being subbed out and receiving a standing ovation.
Ruschel joined fellow crash survivors Neto and Jakson Vollman, who lost a leg in the accident, on the pitch, where they were honored before the friendly.
Following the game, Ruschel shared a hug and exchanged jerseys with Lionel Messi.
What a moment.
Lionel Messi swaps shirts with Chapecoense plane crash survivor Alan Ruschel. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/TzVt0fO1J0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 7, 2017
“It was a great tribute to a club that has had a very difficult time and that we hope recovers. It has been an emotional day,” Barcelona SC manager Ernesto Valverde said.
Ruschel was the first survivor to be pulled from the LaMia Flight 2933 wreckage in Colombia. He suffered facial wounds and a severe back injury, but was up and walking again in early December. He returned to soccer in March and seems to be fully ready for his professional career to continue.