After an incredible win yesterday against the French, Messi lifted the World Cup for the first time in his career after playing 172 times for his country.
“I wanted to close my career with this, it was the one that was missing so I can no longer ask for anything else,” said Messi, 35, in his victory speech.
“I was able to get the Copa America and now the World Cup that I had fought so hard for. I’ve got it at the end of my career. But I love football and I want to continue living a few more games being world champion.”
Among millions of people watching and cheering the greatest football player in the world, the top fan of Messi was none other than his beloved wife and childhood partner, Antonela Roccuzzo.
The couple first met when Roccuzo was only five and Messi was six years old. As opposed to most footballers who meet their WAGs in gaudy nightclubs or on social media, their love story is a little different.
Antonela is the cousin of Messi’s childhood buddy Lucas Scagilia.
The footballer-to-be first saw her in the early Nineties and immediately asked: ‘Who is she?’ She answered, ‘Antonela, my cousin.’
Scagilia’s father said that Messi ‘couldn’t look away from her for a second’. After spending two days in her neighborhood, Messi knew he wanted to be with her forever.
The love birds share three sons together – Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 4.
The couple tied the knot in 2017, 25 years after their first meeting. It was described as Argentina’s ‘wedding of the century’ and boasted a guest list of 260 people, including footballers Neymar, Luis Suárez, and Gerard Piqué, who arrived in Rosario in a private jet with his then partner, Colombian pop star Shakira.
The bride wore a dress by Rosa Clara, a Barcelona-based designer who has dressed actress Eva Longoria and Spain’s Queen Letizia.
In 2019, the soccer player spoke to Marca for an interview and said his wife is great in all aspects of life.
“The truth is that [I admire] everything [about Antonela],” he said. “She has many good qualities: how she gets by on a daily basis; her personality; she is always in a good mood; and she always faces up to problems in an admirable way. She is a very intelligent person who is great in all aspects of life.”
The Argentine-based multi-millionaire philanthropist, influencer, and former dentist flew to Qatar last month to support his childhood best friend and husband, Leo Messi.
“Travelling without her three sons, who attend a private international school in the French capital, the WAG appears to be enjoying her time in Doha, enjoying a night out with fellow footballer’s wife Sofi Balbi, who’s married to Argentine star Luis Suárez,” Daily Mail reported.
“The close friends were clearly enjoying their night out in the balmy Middle Eastern city. Ibiza is a regular holiday destination for the two women, enjoying yacht holidays and luxury hotel breaks with their respective husbands – who played together at Barcelona.”
On December 18, after a nail-biting game of 90 minutes, Argentina beat France by 4-2 on penalties at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
The South Americans celebrated their incredible win in the last game of FIFA 2022. Antonela stepped onto the pitch to hug and kiss her star husband after he scored the winning goal for Argentina.
The glamorous WAG stood by his side throughout the celebrations along with their three boys and also lifted and kissed his trophy.
After the match, 34-year-old Roccuzzo shared a series of images on her Instagram with over 25 million followers and wrote,
“I don’t even know how to start.. that greater pride we feel for you @leomessi.”
“Thanks for teaching us never to give up, we have to fight it to the end. FINALLY, YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION, we know what you suffered for so many years, you wanted to achieve this!!!”
“LET’S GO ARGENTINA,” she wrote alongside her photos with the title caption, “WORLD CHAMPIONS.”
She also shared a separate photo of Messi kissing the golden accolade and wrote, “MY Champion,” with a heart emoji.
Let us know your views in the comment section.
Sources: Instagram – Daily Mail – Marca
