For Lionel Messi, very few things matter more than playing soccer, a rare exception being his family. The Argentine has always been a committed husband and father to his wife Antonela and kids. His son Thiago has been dazzling for the Inter Miami U-12 team recently and Mateo and Ciro too look to take on the soccer path. But could the boys be about to welcome a little sister soon? In a recent presser, Messi gets candid about the ‘important‘ role Antonela plays in his life, baby plans, and much more.

In the interview compiled by Martin Arevalo, Lionel Messi said of Antonela, “Defining everything she means to me… anything I say will fall short. She is very important and she is everything for me.” Messi and Antonela’s love story goes decades back. She connected with La Pulga before his rise to fame in Rosario, Argentina. They bonded instantly but spent their teen years apart as Messi left for Spain. In 2009, they confirmed their relationship in public, and later in 2012, they welcomed Thiago to the world. 3 years later, Mateo Messi was born.

The couple tied the knot in 2017 and Antonela gave birth to Ciro soon after in 2018. 6, years later, perhaps the couple might be planning for another child. Lionel Messi said, “I would love to have a girl, but for now there is nothing concrete.” It seems La Pulga is keeping all possibilities open.

Antonela and the kids are regularly seen attending soccer matches to support Daddy dearest. This is a tradition that has followed from Barcelona to Inter Miami. With all the success he had, you might think the family would have been quite overjoyed. Yet, this was not the case as per Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi reveals how his family ‘suffered’ because of him

When you are related to Lionel Messi, you will fall under the public eye. For La Pulga’s family, this was not always a good experience. The soccer icon said, “I had a bad time, and so did my family. People who love me were very unfair to that group and said everything about me.” Whenever Messi was subjected to criticism, it affected the people close to him dearly.

Perhaps, more than Antonela and the children, it was his family back in Argentina that suffered the most. Lionel Messi’s lack of silverware previously with the national team was a big talking point back in Argentina. A lot of the public frustration had to be endured by his relatives in the country. Messi revealed, “My mother, my father, my brother, my sister, my nephew who also lives in Argentina, grew up with all that.” Fortunately, the situation has changed now with Lionel Messi winning the World Cup and the Copa America. Those who were against him have become admirers and even a neighbourhood has been named after Messi!