After scripting history by winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 for Argentina, the greatest footballer in the world, Lionel Messi quickly sprung back to do his other duty i.e. be the full-time photographer of his wife Antonela Roccuzzo.
Visuals of him clicking pictures of his wife with the coveted cup have gone viral with people loving the cute family moment.
View this post on Instagram
The love that we see between them dates back to when Messi wasn’t even close to being the G.O.A.T footballer. Cupid struck the 9-year-old Messi when he saw Antonela who was his friend’s cousin.
But the childhood sweethearts couldn’t spend enough time together as Messi had to reportedly leave his hometown Rosario in Argentina. After fighting with a growth hormone disorder, Messi joined the Barcelone FC under-14 football team in Spain when he was just 11.
View this post on Instagram
Despite all odds, Antonela stood by him knowing how much he wanted to be a footballer. While Messi was emerging as an ace footballer, his ‘bachpan ka pyar’ was focusing on her career. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Social Sciences in her hometown, she reportedly planned to pursue Dentistry.
But a tragic incident got them to meet again. After Antonela lost her BFF in a car crash, Messi flew down to stay by her during this devastating time. This is when their bond grew stronger.
View this post on Instagram
And since it was getting difficult to stay in a long-distance relationship with Messi, she decided to leave her studies and move to Spain to be closer to him.
Eventually, their love bloomed and so did Messi’s career. Soon, the lovers moved in together in Barcelona. Then in 2012, the couple welcomed their first love child Thiago. Soon after, arrived their second son, Mateo in 2015. Then in 2017, Messi returned home to get married to Antonela in Rosario amidst family and friends. Soon after, she delivered their third son, Ciro, in 2018.
View this post on Instagram
Talking about his wife, who is now a model and a social media personality, in an interview, Messi said that he admires everything about his wife.
“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.”
View this post on Instagram
Decades later after falling in love, the childhood lovers today hold hands together, proud of the decision they took back then, happy that they stood by each other during the testing times. So inspiring!