Read more to find out all about Messi’s childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo: How the couple met; their history, kids, married life, and more!
Lionel Andrés Messi, who was born on 24 June 1987, also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and a record six European Golden Shoes.
The GOAT’s Start to His Career
On 24 June, his 18th birthday, Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player. It made him a Barcelona player until 2010, two years less than his previous contract, but his buyout clause increased to €150 million.
His breakthrough came two months later, on 24 August, during the Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona’s pre-season competition. A starter for the first time, he gave a well-received performance against Fabio Capello’s Juventus, receiving an ovation from the Camp Nou.
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Messi’s Wife: Antonela Roccuzzo
The professional soccer star and Antonela Roccuzzo met as children and even though Messi eventually moved away from Argentina to train in his sport, the two reconnected over a tragedy and eventually fell in love.
According to Vanity Fair España, Antonela Roccuzzo went to university in Argentina. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in humanities and social sciences from the National University of Rosario and began postgraduate studies in dentistry.
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In November 2016, Roccuzzo announced that she signed a modeling contract with designer Ricky Sarkany. In 2017, Roccuzzo and her friend Sofia Balbi, the wife of soccer player Luis Suárez, opened Barcelona’s boutique for the Argentinean footwear brand Sarkany, according to Marca.
She has also worked with several fitness brands and companies including Adidas and Stella McCartney.
Their Relationship Over The Years
The pair met in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina, as children. When Messi was a teenager, he moved to Spain to pursue a soccer career.
In 2005, Roccuzzo’s best friend, Ursula Notz, died in a car accident. After Messi discovered the news, he flew back to Argentina from Spain to comfort Antonela. From that time, romance started brewing between the two. Who knew that these love birds will be tying the knot one day!
In 2012, the couple welcomed their first son, Thiago. Their second son, Mateo, was born in 2015, and their third son, Ciro, was born in 2018.
“You grow and you learn,” Messi told FC Barcelona when asked how he felt about being a father. “You gather experience in all aspects of life, on and off the field. But, as a human being, having three children changed my perspective on life, my way of thinking and it also helped me grow.”
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The footballer and model’s nuptials were dubbed the “wedding of the century.” Messi’s teammates were in attendance, along with Shakira and her then-partner Gerard Piqué. The wedding was held on June 30, 2017, at a casino in the couple’s hometown.
Roccuzzo is extremely supportive of Messi’s career. The model regularly cheers on her husband during his soccer matches, including on Dec. 13, 2022, when she celebrated Messi and the Argentina national football team making the World Cup final. The model also watched her husband win the FIFA World Cup 2022 with their three sons, and celebrated the victory!