Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo's fairytale love story: From childhood sweethearts to family of five

Imagine being the shining prince of football on the field, and an incredible romantic off it!Seems like Lionel “Leo” Messi has got both ends covered! Because as much as his achievements and accolades for his brilliance on the field don’t need any more introductions, his love life doesn’t stay far behind! In fact, Messi and his partner Antonela Roccuzzo’s love story doesn’t need any Hollywood scriptwriters—it’s already got all the good stuff.Messi’s the football legend, sure, the guy who glides across the football field and somehow makes magic look easy. But away from the crowds? He’s just Leo from Rosario, still that introverted kid who once fell for his best friend’s cousin. That was Antonela. Their story kicked off long before the trophies or the spotlight. Back then, Messi was this young kid, maybe nine or ten, finding excuses to hang out at Lucas Scaglia’s place, just hoping to see her.

Nothing dramatic happened—it was just a quiet friendship, off the radar, no fuss. Then life did what it does. Messi left Argentina at 13, chasing the dream in Barcelona. Suddenly, there’s an ocean between him and Antonela. They drifted into their own worlds. But their story didn’t just fizzle out. In 2005, when Antonela lost someone close to her, Messi didn’t even think twice. He got on a plane back to Rosario, just to be there for her.

That changed everything. They weren’t just childhood friends anymore—there was something real there, something that stuck.After that, things just started to click. They got closer, and by 2009, everyone knew they were together. Messi never seemed interested in playing the celebrity couple game—they just kept it simple, living their lives and building something solid. Soon, their family grew. Thiago came along in 2012, then Mateo in 2015, and Ciro in 2018.

Five Messis now, and honestly, they all just seem happiest hanging out together. Every great love story needs a big moment, right? They got theirs in 2017. Messi and Antonela got married in Rosario, right where it all began. The wedding was massive—football royalty everywhere, flashy headlines calling it the “wedding of the century.” But for them, it was personal. They wanted to celebrate with the people who’d known their story from day one.The thing is, what makes their story work isn’t just the fairytale parts. It’s the normal stuff, too. They started out as kids with crushes, grew up, dealt with distance, grief, pressure—everything life throws at you—yet they held on to each other. Fame didn’t create them; it just let everyone else see what was already there. Their love didn’t explode onto the scene—it grew quietly, out of friendship, and survived everything that came after.

Now, all these years later, they’ve built a life that’s really about family, about love, not just football. That’s the beauty of it. Sometimes the best stories aren’t wild or dramatic—they’re about growing up together, sticking it out, and building something that actually lasts.