While fans eagerly await the return of Lionel Messi to the field, the Argentine legend is enjoying downtime with his family. As the maestro himself enjoys a well-deserved break, it’s his family that’s making waves. Messi’s eldest son, Thiago, has been busy on the field with Inter Miami’s academy youth team. Meanwhile, Messi’s wife established her presence on the sidelines, cheering for her son.

However, while doing so at the Heron’s academy, Antonela casually dropped a bombshell with a simple Instagram caption, instantly setting off a global soccer debate. So what did she say to garner such widespread reactions from the fans? Let’s find out below.

Fans react over Lionel Messi’s wife’s revelation

Recently, Antonela Roccuzzo, while cheering for her son, shared a snapshot from the gallery on her story, proudly labeling herself as a “soccer mom.” This seemingly innocuous post, however, sparked a global debate among fans. The post found its way to various fan accounts, with @usmntonly leading the charge, proclaiming, “Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo calls herself a soccer mom while watching Inter Miami academy matches. IT’S. CALLED. SOCCER.”

While ‘football’ is the preferred term for the sport in most parts of the world, Americans overwhelmingly use ‘soccer.’ Roccuzzo’s choice of words ignited a passionate online discussion, with fans from both sides voicing their opinions.

Some fans, particularly those from the United States, lauded Roccuzzo for embracing the American term. “First Lady of Soccer,“ one fan declared, while another joked, “Gonna have Messi’s son and Ronaldo’s son both playing for Team USA.”

Others appreciated her showing respect for the local culture, stating, “I love how she shows respect for America.”

However, the debate also attracted people who argued for the traditional term. Comments like “I’m still calling it football” and “We will call it soccer when the US wins the World Cup” highlighted the strong attachment that many have to the word ‘football.’ Setting the recent instance aside, the battle of the narrative has been an age-old feud.

Soccer vs Football: Unraveling the Narrative

Beyond the immediate fan reactions, the ‘soccer vs. football’ debate has a curious history. Interestingly, despite being widely used in America, the word ‘soccer’ actually originated in England. The term ‘Association Football’ was shortened to just Assoc. In the late 1800s England, at Oxford, there was also a fad of adding -er to some words. And thus, ‘soccer’ was born.

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While the word ‘soccer’ eventually faded in favor of ‘football’ in the U.K., the United States continued using ‘soccer,’ leading to the present-day division. Ultimately, whether you call it soccer or football, the passion for the sport remains undeniable. As fans eagerly await the return of Lionel Messi to the pitch, his family continues to be an unexpected source of intrigue among them.

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