Who Is Antonela Roccuzzo? Lionel Messi’s Childhood Sweetheart, Wife, and the Woman Behind the World Cup GOAT

Lionel Messi opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup the only way he knows how — by rewriting history. The 38-year-old Argentine captain struck a hat-trick as Argentina dismantled Algeria 3-0 in their tournament opener, matching Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record and becoming only the second footballer after Cristiano Ronaldo to find the net across five separate World Cup editions. As the goals went in and the world talked about Messi, one woman sat in the stands who has watched every defining chapter of this story — his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.

A Love Story That Started Before the Football Did

Messi and Antonela did not meet at a glamorous event or through mutual celebrity acquaintances. They met as children in Rosario, Argentina. Antonela was the cousin of Messi’s closest childhood friend, Lucas Scaglia, and the future football icon reportedly developed feelings for her from that earliest age. When Messi relocated to Spain as a teenager to join Barcelona’s La Masia academy, the distance did not sever the connection — it simply put it on hold.

The bond between them deepened in 2005, when tragedy struck Antonela’s life. After she lost one of her closest friends in a fatal accident, Messi flew back to Argentina to be by her side. That decision marked the beginning of something permanent. A long-distance romance followed, sustained across continents for years.

Going Public, Then Making It Official

The couple kept their relationship private for years before Messi addressed it publicly for the first time on the TV3 football chat show Hat Trick Barca. When asked directly whether he was in a relationship, he answered simply:

Eight years of romance culminated in a wedding on June 30, 2017, held in Rosario — the city where they first met. The ceremony drew footballers from across the world and was widely described by media outlets as the

Antonela Roccuzzo — Far More Than the Footballer’s Wife

Born on February 26, 1988, in Rosario, Antonela has built a career entirely independent of her husband’s fame. She is a model, entrepreneur, influencer, and philanthropist with close to 40 million Instagram followers. She has collaborated with major global brands and supported charitable initiatives including campaigns with UNICEF and the Special Olympics.

The couple have three sons — Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. In 2023, the family relocated to Miami when Messi signed for Inter Miami, beginning a new chapter together in the United States. As Messi chases one final World Cup glory, Antonela — as she always has — is right there beside him.