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Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s relationship began as childhood sweethearts, overcame years of separation, and blossomed into a family with three children.
Lionel Messi and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, share a love story that began when they were just nine years old. Despite their enduring bond, the couple faced challenges, including years of separation, before rekindling their relationship and building a life together. They married in 2017 and now share three sons: Thiago (11), Mateo (8), and Ciro (6).
Messi met Antonela through her cousin in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina. Recalling their early connection, Messi said on the Willing to Everything podcast, "I always liked her." However, at 13, Messi moved to Spain to join Barcelona, causing them to lose contact due to the difficulty of long-distance communication at the time.
Years later, a personal tragedy in Antonella’s life brought Messi back to Argentina, where they reconnected. He explained, "At 16 or 17 years old we reconnected…We hadn’t lost that feeling we had as kids." Their bond deepened, and Antonella eventually joined Messi in Barcelona, where their family grew.
The couple married in 2017 in a lavish ceremony in Rosario, dubbed Argentina’s “wedding of the century.” Attendees included Messi’s former teammates Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, and Shakira. By then, their family already included their first two sons, Thiago and Mateo, with their youngest, Ciro, arriving in 2018.
Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, often shares how fatherhood transformed him. In 2013, he told El Periodico, "My son has changed my life more than the Ballon d’Or awards have." His three sons are now following in his footsteps, with Messi coaching them in the beautiful game.
From their humble beginnings in Rosario to Messi’s illustrious career in Europe and the U.S., the family continues to navigate life together, proving that love, resilience, and shared dreams can overcome any challenge.