As Soccer Ace Messi Retires, Here's A Look At His Personal Life

Often referred to as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Times) in the world of sports, Lionel Messi has now decided to draw curtains over his impeccable football career. The Argentina football sensation announced through his country's media agency Diario Deportivo Ole that the Qatar FIFA World Cup is not just his last football world cup but also his last stint at the game.

Messi took his team to the FIFA World 2022 finals and a subsequent win on Sunday, December 18. Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for France's Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes.

It was an incredible night of drama and fluctuating fortunes, delivering one of the all-time great finals to cap a wonderful tournament.

As the Barcelona team sensation retires from the game he has played for over two decades, let's take a look at how his love story with his spouse, Antonela Roccuzzo fuelled not just his career but also the great personality he is today.

Roccuzzo also penned a heartfelt note for the star player, praising him to help Argentina clinch the FIFA World Cup 2022 title.

She wrote, "I don't even know how to start... what great pride we feel for you, Lionel Messi. Thank you for teaching us to never give up, and that we have to fight until the end. IT'S FINALLY DONE, YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION, we know what you suffered for so many years, what you wanted to achieve this!!! Let's go Argentina."

Suggested Reading: Know All About Football Legend Leo Messi’s Wife And Model Antonela Roccuzzo

Lionel Messi Antonela Roccuzzo Love Story

Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo's love story is one for the ages. It's a story that has endured decades and made the couple flourish together into becoming wonderful and successful individuals. Messi and Roccuzzo, who share three children, have been together since childhood and how distance and tragedy brought them together is an anecdote that will be remembered and cherished forever.

As the King of Football is gracefully moving on from the game that made him who he is, let's take a lot at his personal journey that supported him throughout his career highs and lows.

The Summer vacation love

A summer vacation in Argentina changed Messi's life forever in the most surreal way he could imagine. Messi met Antonela while he was staying with his friend Lucas Scaglia over the summer. Messi and Scaglia also played together at Newell’s Old Boys club. Scaglia's cousin Antonela visited him the same summer; that is how the path to the greatest love story ever formed. The two became friends right from childhood, played with other kids on the streets of Argentina, and remained in touch ever since.

Distance didn't separate them

Messi was 11 when he was diagnosed with an illness. It was a growth hormone disorder that could hinder his dream of playing football professionally. His father, Jorge Messi left no stone unturned to get him enrolled in an under-14 soccer team that could not just advance his career but also support him medically so he could get past his disorder.

Messi left for Spain after the under-14 FC Barcelona division signed him. While there was no looking back for him professionally, he often wondered about his bond with Antonela who lived in Argentina's Rosario. The two focused on their respective careers as time passed. While Messi started growing in his field, Antonela studied dental medicine and surgery back in her hometown.

A tragedy that brought them closer

It's said tough times bring people closer. That's what happened with Messi and Antonela. When Antonela lost her best friend in a car crash, the tragic event left her devasted and broken. When Messi heard of the tragedy, he booked a flight back to Argentina to be with her. The couple reunited and got closer. Their love story bloomed and so did Messi's football career. Antonela decided to move to Spain and to live with Messi and the duo resided in their Castelldefels house in Barcelona.

The family

The couple announced in June 2012, that they were pregnant with their first child. Antonela gave birth to their son, Thiago Messi in November 2012. The duo welcomed their second child, Mateo, in September 2015, and their third child in March 2018. They named their third son Ciro.

Happily ever after

Messi and Antonela got married on June 30, 2017, in their hometown Rosario in Argentina. As Messi plays his career-best football in his farewell world cup matches, Antonela is right there cheering for him like she always has.

She has been sharing significant moments from the games on her social media and with her are her three kids rooting for their father. In a recent press conference after his team's win at a quarter-final match, Messi said, "My family is always present. My spouse and my children are there no matter what and seeing them happy today is the most wonderful thing."