London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025

Antonela Roccuzzo — the first lady of Argentinean football

Antonela Roccuzzo — the first lady of Argentinean football

From childhood sweetheart to one-half of sport’s couple of the moment — this is Mrs Messi

Last night, football star Lionel Messi became a legend after securing Argentina its first World Cup victory since 1986.

During the tense final against France, his childhood sweetheart, Antonela Roccuzzo, could be seen cheering him on from the sidelines, and erupted into celebration after the team won 4-2 on penalties.

“CHAMPIONS! I don’t even know how to start.. pride greater that we feel for you @leomessi thank you for teaching us to never give up, you have to fight to the end.” She later posted to Instagram. “We know what you suffered so many years, what you wanted to get!!! Let’s go Argentina.”


Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates while holding aloft the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner's Trophy

The 34-year-old has been by her husband’s side for every one of his major triumphs, including his seven Ballon d’Or wins, 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, and four UEFA Champions League titles. That’s despite Messi conceding that Antonella “gets bored of football”, in a 2013 interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, proving her utmost loyalty to the athlete.

But really, it’s no surprise, the pair have been inseparable since they were teenagers and, although they are extremely private, Messi has gushed to FC Barcelona about how his wife “has lots of great qualities”.

“I really admire how she deals with the day to day, she is always in a good mood and she approaches problems admirably. She is highly intelligent and well rounded in all aspects of life.”

This is the story of how the former dentistry graduate won Messi’s heart and became a social-media star in her own right.

"She is highly intelligent and well rounded in all aspects of life"


How tragedy brought the two childhood sweethearts together


Roccuzzo was born in Rosario and first met Messi via her cousin, Lucas Scaglia, when they were only five years old. The former midfielder used to train with Messi and it was at the training ground where the two future lovebirds fell for each other.

According to trainer Enrique Dominguez, the young footballer would loiter around the training centre, until his friend would invite him around for dinner, in the hope of spending more time with Roccuzzo. While Scagilia’s father said Messi “could not look away from her for a second”.

In fact, in 2019, local newspaper La Capital uncovered a photo of the two hanging out in a holiday resort in Punta Mogotes when Roccuzzo was only nine years old. At the time, Messi was playing in a youth football tournament in the nearby city of Balcarce, and Roccuzzo had come along to support her cousin who was also playing.

The young lovebirds


Unfortunately, things became complicated when Messi moved to Barcelona to train when he was only 13. “Imagine moving with your family to a new continent at age 13, with everyone’s future riding on you. It was a complicated time,” Messi recalled during an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“On the one hand, it was spectacular to come play at Barcelona. On the other, leaving everything behind in Rosario was tough: my friends, the rest of my family, my childhood, arriving in a country where I had nothing. I started practically from zero.”

However, he didn’t have any choice. Messi had been diagnosed with a growth-deficiency disorder as a child, which meant he had to inject himself with growth hormones in his leg each night — his family were struggling to afford it and Barcelona paid for the treatment.

Still, the two stayed in contact, with Messi returning regularly to see Roccuzzo. But, in 2005, disaster struck when Roccuzzo’s best friend, Ursula Notz, passed away in a car accident. Upon hearing the devastating news, Messi dropped everything and flew to Rosario to support the grieving university student, which is when they reportedly began officially dating. However, they kept their relationship private until 2008 as Roccuzzo, then 18, didn’t want to be the archetypal WAG.


From studying dentistry to finally taking their relationship public


Instead, Roccuzzo attended the National University of Rosario, where she studied dentistry before switching to social communication. However, Messi couldn’t keep his excitement at finally landing his dream woman after so many years.

During a January 2009 interview with the football chatshow Hat Trick Barca, on the Catalan channel TV3, Messi replied to a question asking if he was in a relationship: “Yes, I have a girlfriend. She is in Argentina. The truth is that I am well and I am relaxed.”

With the cat out of the bag, the duo had their public debut a month later during a carnival in Sitges. Then, less than a year later, Roccuzzo made the decision to cut her career short and move to Barcelona to support her beau.

Lionel Messi sits with his wife and two of his sons after the final

By 2012, the couple welcomed their first son, Thiago. “You grow and you learn,” Messi told FC Barcelona about being a father. "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.”

He added, “Even though there are few moments of respite at home with three kids, we try to enjoy every second with them, whether it is watching the TV, playing, or whatever. We like to stay at home and enjoy these moments.”

Their second son, Mateo, was born in 2015, and their third son, Ciro, was born in 2018.


Hosting the “wedding of the century”


On June 30, 2017, the pair wed in their home town of Rosario, in Argentina. For the event, they took over the extravagant City Centre Hotel and Casino, complete with an additional 450 police officers, who were overseen by a former military sergeant for added security. An understandable preparation, especially considering their guestlist included Premier League stars Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero, as well as Barcelona legends Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, and Samuel Eto’o (plus global pop star Shakira).

Lionel Messi and his wife, Antonela, on their wedding day


The bride wore a custom Rosa Clará gown that was flown in from Spain on a private jet and took more than 200 hours to make. But as the designer herself said: “Dressing Antonella for her wedding to Leo Messi is a real honour, and a real responsibility. Being asked to create a gown for an occasion as special and unique as her wedding day is a source of enormous pride for our company.”

The mermaid-style gown, which featured a deep sweetheart neckline, delicate French lace straps, and a heart-shaped back, was complemented by Messi’s suave Dolce and Gabbana suit.

As for the 250 guests, who had their phones banned during the nuptials, they were treated to a sushi station, empanadas (traditional pasties), and a casserole of sweetbreads and blood sausage. All the leftover food was donated to the Rosario food bank.


Social media, pet dogs, and Ed Sheeran


Although Messi is making £94 million over three years playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Roccuzzo makes her own money as a model-influencer with more than 25 million followers.

The couple on their private jet en route to Paris last year


Back in November 2016, Rocuzzo announced that she had signed a modelling contract with Argentine fashion label Ricky Sarkany and, a year later, she opened a Barcelona outpost for the brand alongside her good friend, Sofia Balbi. She has also worked with the likes of Stella McCartney, Adidas, and Alo Yoga.

These days, she spends her time between their multiple houses, including a £10 million mansion just outside Barcelona, as well as ones in Ibiza, Miami, and their home town of Rosario in Argentina. There they have a house complete with 25 rooms called The Fortress, which they plan to live in once Messi retires.

As well as being a known dog lover, Roccuzzo is also a huge fan of British singer Ed Sheeran. So much so that Messi poked fun at having met the musician before her. Under a photo of the football star and the Grammy Award winner that Messi posted on Instagram, Roccuzzo’s friend Balbi commented: “Someone I know loves this photo,” to which Messi replied, “She missed out on the photo but he said hello.”

At the Ballon d'Or Awards in Paris with the family in 2021


It appears the feeling was mutual. During an interview with a journalist who is close friends with Roccuzzo, Sheeran passed along this message: “I was so sorry not to meet you in Paris but I’m going to be in the Stade de France playing next summer if you want to come,” he said, while holding a copy of his new album, Equals. “Anytime you want to come to a show feel free and I’ll see you there. And I’ve got a vinyl for you too. Lots of love.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
×