Copyright timesnownews
Before we dive into the romance, a quick update for Indian fans: Lionel Messi is set to visit India for the “GOAT Tour” from 13–15 December 2025, stopping in Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Expect concerts, exhibition matches, fan sessions and even a few masterclasses. It’ll be only his second visit to the country, the first being in 2011 — reason enough for football lovers to dust off their jerseys. Now, back to the heart of the story — because Messi’s magic isn’t limited to the pitch. For decades, Lionel Messi has been football’s quiet revolutionary, rewriting records with the same calmness he uses to dribble past defenders. Yet, off the field, his greatest victory may well be the relationship he’s built with Antonela Roccuzzo — the girl he’s loved since childhood. Before the glitter of Ballon d’Ors and World Cup medals, Messi was just a boy from Rosario with a notebook, a dream, and a crush. What began as innocent puppy love turned into one of sport’s most enduring relationships — a partnership that has survived time, distance and unimaginable fame. It’s not a tale of red-carpet glamour or scandal-sheet headlines; it’s one of quiet loyalty and old-fashioned devotion, written in the margins of ordinary life. The Beginning: A Little Boy, a Crush, and a Promise Rosario, a modest Argentine city obsessed with football, was the unlikely stage for the beginning of this story. A nine-year-old Messi first noticed Antonela, the cousin of his childhood friend Lucas Scaglia. She’d occasionally tag along when the boys played football, her laughter carrying over the pitch. While most children at that age were plotting playground victories, Messi had already set his heart elsewhere. Friends recall him writing in a letter, “One day we’ll get engaged.” Simple words, but they turned prophetic. Life, of course, had other plans. When Messi left Argentina for Barcelona’s academy, La Masia, his career took flight while Antonela stayed in Rosario, focused on her studies. They lost touch, as childhood friends so often do — until fate intervened. A Tragedy That Reconnected Two Hearts In 2005, tragedy struck Antonela’s life when her best friend was killed in a car accident. Upon hearing the news, Messi — already playing professionally for Barcelona — immediately flew home to console her. That gesture rekindled their friendship, and something deeper began to take shape. The distance between Spain and Argentina suddenly didn’t seem insurmountable. Late-night calls, brief visits, handwritten notes — the building blocks of something lasting. While Messi’s career skyrocketed, their love remained quietly tucked away from public curiosity. In an era when fame often consumes privacy, the two managed to keep their relationship real — unfiltered and unpretentious. Going Public and Building a Family By 2009, fans had begun to suspect that Messi’s heart was spoken for. During an interview that year, he shyly confirmed it: yes, he was dating his childhood sweetheart. Not long after, Antonela became a familiar face in the stands, always cheering but never clamouring for the camera. Three years later, she made the leap — moving to Barcelona permanently. That same year, the couple welcomed their first child, Thiago. Then came Mateo in 2015 and Ciro in 2018. Their family, though occasionally photographed, has remained refreshingly normal. No reality shows, no excessive glamour — just birthday cakes, school runs, and Sunday barbecues. Fun Fact: Messi once said in an interview that becoming a father “changed everything”. His pre-match nerves, he admitted, disappeared the moment he held Thiago. The Wedding of the Century On 30 June 2017, Rosario played host to what local newspapers gleefully called “the wedding of the century.” Guests included teammates, childhood friends, and a few footballing legends — but the tone was more homely than Hollywood. The ceremony took place at the City Centre Hotel, not far from where the couple first met as children. The menu stayed proudly Argentine: empanadas, asado, and dulce de leche desserts, all personal favourites of the groom. It wasn’t the spectacle that made it memorable; it was the sentiment. After years of long-distance devotion, the boy who had once scribbled a promise finally stood beside the woman he’d loved all along. Who Is Antonela Roccuzzo? To label her merely “Messi’s wife” would be to ignore her own quiet achievements. Born on 26 February 1988, Antonela grew up in a close family in Rosario. She initially studied dentistry before switching to social communication and later delving into modelling and business. Over the years she’s collaborated with fashion and fitness brands such as Ricky Sarkany and Alo Yoga, and she co-owns a luxury boutique in Argentina. Yet she prefers understatement to spotlight. Her social-media presence reflects a grounded personality — stylish, yes, but focused on family. Friends describe her as Messi’s anchor: calm, practical, and quietly strong. Wherever his career has taken him — Barcelona, Paris, Miami — she’s provided the sense of home he never lost sight of. More About Lionel Messi Born on 24 June 1987, Lionel Andrés Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child — a condition that could have ended his football dreams before they began. Instead, he defied every prediction. Barcelona spotted his talent early, bringing him to Spain and covering his medical treatment. From there, he rewrote football’s record books: ten La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Rey trophies, and eight Ballon d’Ors. Then, in December 2022, came the crowning moment — leading Argentina to World Cup victory. It was the final chapter in a career already overflowing with brilliance. Yet, despite global superstardom, Messi’s manner remains almost self-effacing. Friends often describe him as shy, content with a quiet evening at home rather than a glitzy after-party — a rare trait in modern sport. A Relationship That Stood the Test of Time What makes this love story remarkable isn’t grand drama or opulent gestures, but endurance. From playground days in Rosario to the palaces of football fame, Messi and Antonela have weathered distance, scrutiny, and the endless carousel of transfers. Their strength lies in their normalcy. They still holiday with childhood friends, still return to Argentina whenever they can, and still protect their privacy fiercely. In an age of instant relationships, theirs is built on slow-burning loyalty. The Fairytale That Feels Real There’s a lovely paradox to their life together: despite extraordinary fame, their relationship remains beautifully ordinary. No theatrics, no publicity stunts — just the enduring affection of two people who grew up side by side. Their story reminds us that fairytales need not be elaborate. Sometimes, love begins with a letter scrawled by a nine-year-old boy, carried through years of silence and distance, until it finally comes true. Fun Fact: Rumour has it that Messi still keeps that childhood note — the one declaring he’d marry Antonela one day. Looking at their journey, it seems the boy from Rosario kept every word of that promise.
