“Antonela Is Everything to Me” – Known Her for 28 Years, Lionel Messi’s Heartfelt Description of Wife Resurfaces 4 Years Later

In his book Shantaram, author Gregory David Roberts, writes the quote, “A good man is as strong as the right woman needs him to be.” Likewise, as the old saying goes, behind every successful man is a strong woman. While it may be a bit of an overused cliche, it’s certainly a fact that a strong woman holding down the fort can elevate a man’s life to new heights. For soccer legend Leo Messi, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo is exactly that.

In what was an impassioned moment, Messi’s wife Antonela ran onto the pitch and kissed Messi after he won the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami last weekend. The footage soon went viral depicting the close bond the couple share.

Messi showers praise and love on his wife Antonela

Messi has been rather coy about speaking about his wife to the media over the course of his career. But this report in Argentine media outlet TN, citing Messi’s comments to Barcelona Paper Sport from 2019, is a rare instance where the soccer star spoke about his partner. In his 2019 interview with the Barcelona paper, Messi said, “Antonela is everything to me. The fact of having her by my side simplifies a lot of things for me.” The Argentine held far more appreciation for his wife than those few lines could encapsulate.

“She’s a person we’ve known for a very long time, she knows me perfectly, she knows how to get me in every moment. And, above all, in the bad ones. She is a person who has practically no bad days, who is always in a good mood. She is a spectacular partner,” added Messi.

Speaking about how long he’s known Antonela, and how their relationship started, Messi said, “I’ve known her since I was seven. Our relationship started later, but we have known each other since we were seven. Actually, she was my best friend’s cousin. That’s when we met and that’s when everything started.”

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“But yes, we know each other very well, we’ve known each other all our lives,” he added. It’s a heartwarming story for arguably the greatest soccer player ever. It’s also fairly certain that having Antonela to confide in and support him, has led to Messi becoming the person he is today: both on and off the pitch.

Messi suggests a move to MLS was a collective family decision

Messi has three boys with Antonela – Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. And it was a collective decision for Messi and his family to move to America, as he suggests.

Speaking about his move to the MLS from PSG, Messi said, “Playing in this country was always in my head, I always had it in mind and I’m enjoying the moment now. My decision went through many issues, we thought about it and decided with my wife, my children were also part of the decision. I simply came here to continue enjoying soccer and I chose this place for this moment,” Messi added.

The Argentine soccer icon also expressed his views about living in Miami as he searches for a new home. Nevertheless, Leo Messi and Antonela’s story is touching and one that echoes just how much having the love of your life as your partner can push you to be better, or in Messi’s case, the best. It’s also a candid take on Messi’s adulation for the woman who has stuck by him and whom he’s known all his life.

Whether you’re a Messi fan or not, you can’t help but smile at this story and the love the pair share for each other.

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