Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s love story began in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina, where they met as children through Antonela’s cousin, who was Messi’s close friend. Even as a boy, Messi was infatuated with Antonela, once writing a note saying she would be his girlfriend someday. Their early bond was interrupted when Messi moved to Spain at age 13 to join FC Barcelona. Years later, in 2005, tragedy brought them back together when Antonela lost her best friend in a car accident and Messi immediately returned to Argentina to support her. That gesture rekindled their connection, and their romantic relationship began soon after. They kept it private for a few years until Messi confirmed it publicly in 2009. By 2010, he proposed, and Antonela moved to Barcelona to be with him. The couple married on June 30, 2017, in Rosario, in a ceremony attended by family, friends, and football stars. They’ve had three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. They now live in Castelldefels, Spain.
Rosario, Argentina