Messi’s wife shares a thought after stunning comeback in the World Cup
Even Lionel Messi’s own wife was shaken by his staggering World Cup performance Tuesday in Atlanta against Egypt.
Despite the Argentine soccer god’s uncharacteristically rough start — including missing a penalty kick in the first half — Messi came through in the clutch, helping his national team pull off a jaw-dropping comeback. At the 83rd minute, the Inter Miami captain managed to tie up the match, with midfielder Enzo Fernández popping in the winning goal in stoppage time.
Final score 3-2, and survival in the knockout round.
Antonela Roccuzzo was watching the action from a VIP box at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the couple’s three young sons Thiago, 13, Mateo, 10, and Ciro, 8. The model-influencer, rocking a crop top No. 10 jersey, posted a few snippets from the dramatic battle on Instagram, including the moment when Messi’s teammates celebrated the key W by hoisting him in the air.
“Ya no quedan palabras,” said the 38-year-old’s caption, meaning, “There are no words.”
If Roccuzzo is speechless, that means a lot. Because if anyone has seen Messi’s career ascend up close, it’s this woman. As fans may already know, these two have a great backstory, meeting as kids growing up in the same town of Rosario, about 130 miles southeast of Buenos Aires.
According to widespread media reports, they initially met through her cousin, pro midfielder turned coach Lucas Scaglia, who was Messi’s teammate at Newell’s Old Boys soccer club.
Though Messi at the tender of 13 moved to Spain to pursue his career with FC Barcelona, he reconnected with Roccuzzo in 2005 to help her mourn a friend who’d been killed in a car crash. The Fort Lauderdale-based couple went public with their relationship about four years later.
They seem as gaga over each other as ever. When the player turned 39 on June 24, Roccuzzo posted a romantic homage of their relationship through the years, pre- and post-kids.
“Happy birthday to the love of my life. May you be very happy today and always. We have everything we need because we have you. I love you to infinity.”
Next up: Look for the stunning WAG to root for her man in the Round of 8, aka the quarterfinals, when Argentina takes on Switzerland in Kansas City Saturday night.