Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami has been a success, with the athlete scoring seven goals in four games for the American club co-owned by David Beckham.
And the footballer has enjoyed the steadfast support of his stunning wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, throughout his successful career.
But who is the attractive WAG who is always rooting for her husband, and how did their love story develop? Scroll down to find out…
Who exactly is Antonela Rocuzzi?
Antonela Roccuzzo, 36, was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, to businessman José Roccuzzo and housewife Patricia Blanco.
The model has three young sons with Messi and frequently posts lovely and touching photographs of the family’s day-to-day activities on her Instagram account, which has 36 million followers.
Lionel Messi’s lovely wife Antonela Roccuzzo has been an unwavering supporter of the footballer.
Mrs Messi is frequently seen by her husband’s side for every football match and major achievement, including a record-breaking seven Ballon d’Or victories in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2021.
Antonela was widely known in 2017 as the supportive wife of a great football player, but she has since carved out her own path as a successful businesswoman.
She is now a philanthropist, a multi-millionaire influencer, the owner of a children’s fashion business, and a model, having worked with several fitness brands and firms such as Adidas and Stella McCartney.
She is also a dentist, but she gave it up to be by the Argentina striker’s side as he began his quest to become one of the world’s richest and best footballers, passing through Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and now Inter Miami.
How did the couple meet?
Antonela happens to be the the cousin of Messi’s childhood friend Lucas Scagilia.
Back in the early Nineties, when the footballer-to-be first laid eyes on her, he asked: ‘Who is she?’ ‘Antonela, my cousin,’ replied Scagilia.
According to Scagilia’s father, Messi ‘could not look away from her for a second’. She visited the neighbourhood for two days, and Messi immediately knew he wanted to be with her forever.
Whenever she stayed at Scagilia’s house, Messi would find an excuse to visit in the hope that he could catch a glimpse of her.
The couple’s relationship did not become public until 2009 and now they have three children together
Antonela frequently publishes lovely and touching images of the family’s day-to-day activities on her Instagram account, which has 36 million followers.
This would frequently occur on weekends. He would write her love letters and tell her that she would be his girlfriend when they were both grown up.
They stayed in touch, with Antonela travelling to see Messi and her cousin play for the Newell’s Old Boys club when they were younger.
Messi moved to Barcelona when he was 13 years old, but the two remained in contact.
Tragic events brought them back together five years later. When Antonela’s best friend Ursula Notz died in a vehicle accident, she was distraught. Messi was so worried about his childhood sweetheart that he returned to Argentina to console her.
They realized they wanted to be boyfriend and girlfriend at that point. Even still, thousands of miles separated them since Antonela, then 18, didn’t want to be the stereotypical WAG.
She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in humanities and social sciences from the National University of Rosario before beginning postgraduate studies in dentistry. But love eventually triumphed.
Antonela made the difficult decision to leave her work and relocate to Barcelona two years after their relationship became public.
Messi was questioned if he was in a relationship on the football conversation show Hat Trick Barca on the Catalan station TV3 in January 2009.
‘Yes, I have a girlfriend,’ he said. She is currently in Argentina. The truth is that I feel fine and at ease.’
Only a few months later, the couple made their relationship public during a fiesta in Sitges following the major Barcelona Espanyol local rivalry.
When did they wed and how many children do they share?
On June 30, 2017, Messi married his stunning wife in a lavish wedding in their hometown of Rosario.
Guests at their wedding checked into the city’s five-star, 188-room Pullman Hotel, with colleagues Gerard Pique and then pop star wife Shakira, Luis Suarez, and Neymar in attendance.
Antonela donned a magnificent gown by Spanish designer Rosa Clara, who is known for creating A-list bridal gowns and styling celebrities like Eva Longoria.
Doting mum: Mrs Messi pictured with her three sons – in 2019
The Argentinian bombshell has been married to the Inter Milan player for six years, sharing three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, together
Messi and Roccuzzo tied the knot in 2017 back in their home town of Rosario, Argentina
In 2019, an Argentinian newspaper La Capital uncovered a touching picture showing the footballer and the mum of their three sons as children nearly two decades before they became man and wife, enjoying themselves in the Atlantic holiday resort of Punta Mogotes.
The couple now share three children. In 2012, five years before they tied the knot, their eldest son Thiago was born, followed by Mateo in 2015. The youngest son, Ciro, was born in 2018.
Lionel told FC Barcelona in 2017 how much fatherhood has been a positive influence on him, saying: ‘You grow and you learn. 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.’
Their clan also includes two dogs, a French mastiff named Señor Hulk and a more timid cockapoo named Abu.
Where do the family live?
The Messi family owns a property in Miami, and their affection for the city is thought to have influenced their decision to relocate to the United States for Messi’s new deal with Inter Miami.
There are, of course, other houses. A £10 million estate just outside Barcelona with views of both the stunning Catalan hills and the Mediterranean coast is among them.
Others can be found in Ibiza, Miami, and their hometown of Rosario, Argentina. There is a house there named The Fortress, which has 25 rooms, including a playroom for sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
According to acquaintances, this is where the Messis intend to retire. That would bring the gorgeous couple full circle back to 1993, when their fairy-tale relationship began.