The world recognizes the name Antonella Roccuzzo as the long-time partner of sensational footballer, Lionel Messi. She has other things going for her apart from that as she is a professional model and also quite a savvy businesswoman. Antonella is family-oriented, with beautiful family pictures and videos dominating her Instagram feed.
Antonella and Messi have been together for what seems like eons. The story of how they met intrigues a lot of fans. How have they managed to juggle professional commitments and remained together? As you’d soon learn, they have flourished as a couple.
Antonella Roccuzzo Has Been With The Soccer Superstar Since Their Childhood
In the world of showbiz, it is hard to see relationships that have lasted for many years. Antonella Roccuzzo and Lionel Messi’s love story is one of a small pool of exceptions. They have known each other since Messi was five and Antonella, four.
They met through Antonella’s cousin, Lucas Scaglia, who was also close friends with Messi. Lionel Messi, like Antonella, hails from Rosario, making it easier for them to become fast friends and see each other as often as they wanted.
Antonella Roccuzzo was born in Rosario on February 26, 1988, to Jose Roccuzzo and Patricia Blanko. Her father was a businessman while her mother was into homemaking and design. Her family lived in the football city of Rosario, Argentina.
When Messi left his native Argentina for Spain at the age of 13, he continued keeping in touch with Antonella whom he left in Rosario. While Messi was setting the world alight with his skills, she completed her high school education. She then applied to the University of Argentina to study Odontology, a move inspired by her childhood dream of becoming a dentist.
Amidst pursuing their dreams, all while keeping in touch, a romantic relationship ensued between both, starting sometime in the late 2000s. They officially went public with news of their relationship in 2008. As their relationship grew stronger, Antonella moved to Barcelona to stay closer to him, regularly going back home to Rosario to visit her family. Her presence also allowed Messi to settle in Spain and focus on his footballing ambitions.
Their romantic relationship was not the only major event in Antonella’s teenage life. With a lifetime of media attention ahead of the couple, she swapped her dentist dream for a degree in Social Communications, deciding to improve her social media savviness and ability.
They Had a Magical Wedding In 2017
After being friends for 24 years and dating since 2008, Lionel Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo decided to make their union legal and walk down the aisle. The couple decided to tie the knot at a very special location on June 30, 2017. The location of the wedding was City Centre Rosario in Santa Fe. As they both hail from the Argentine city, the wedding held a special significance for both Messi and Antonella.
The wedding had over 250 guests and some of the biggest names in football in attendance. The guest list ranged from his Barcelona teammates to his Argentine national teammates and even some friends from the Barcelona Academy. 150 journalists were also permitted to cover the wedding, although they were restricted from the main venue.
The Couple Has Three Children So Far
Before Antonella Roccuzzo and Lionel Messi decided to legalize their union, they were already building their family. By the time they got married in 2017, the couple already had two sons. Their first son Thiago Messi was born on November 2, 2012. Born in Barcelona, his birth made Messi do something rare – miss training. He also tattoed his name and handprints on his left calf.
Their second son named Matteo arrived on September 11, 2015. Matteo was also born in Barcelona. Messi skipped training once more to be with his wife for the birth of their second son.
Four months after their wedding, the couple were expecting another child. Antonella shared the news on her Instagram account. This time around, Messi skipped a football match to be at the hospital. Their last son, Ciro, came into the world on March 10, 2018.
With the couple being parents to 3 sons, Antonella and Messi have expressed that they desire to try for a girl. It is natural to expect further addition to the Messi family after this declaration.
The Footballer’s Wife Operates Sarkany’s First Shop In Europe
Although Antonella Roccuzzo is primarily popular for being Lionel Messi’s partner, she is not reliant on his fame and fortune. She is very much a hardworking businesswoman and model. In 2016, she signed a deal with the giant Latin American shoe brand, Sarkany. The deal meant she would model for the brand and help market some of their products.
In a grand event, Antonella opened a shoe boutique for the Sarkany shoe brand, along with Sofia Balbi who is Luis Suarez’s spouse. The boutique located at Avenida Diagonal in Barcelona sells Sarkany’s signature footwear. Boutique Sarkany also sells perfumes, wallets, and other accessories. After having over 70 stores across Latin America, this was Sarkany’s first in Europe.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both attended the launch of the boutique.
Antonella Roccuzzo’s Wealth Compared to Messi’s
A quick preview of Antonella Roccuzzo’s Instagram account tells a story of wealth and affluence. From vacation pictures to designer clothing and expensive housing, it is clear that she is living the good life. Asides from being married to one of the richest athletes in the world, Antonella does have her own money.
Being a brand ambassador, Instagram influencer, and running her boutique means she has gathered a very healthy net worth. As of 2020, she has an estimated wealth of $21 million. Little wonder she can afford the affluent lifestyle.
However, her wealth becomes insignificant when compared to her husband’s fortune. According to Forbes, Messi is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. In 2020 alone, it is estimated that he pocketed $72 million as his salary and another $32 million from endorsement deals. His wealth is widely estimated at around $400 and $500 million.
