Lionel Messi says that when he gets home, he makes a point of leaving the fame behind. In a May 2025 interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, translated from Spanish and reported by E! News, Messi said he tries to act like a “normal dad” and “normal husband” with Antonela Roccuzzo and their sons Thiago, Matteo and Ciro.
Messi and Roccuzzo first met as children in Rosario, Argentina, when he was training at Newell’s Old Boys and spent time with the family of teammate Lucas Scaglia. Their friendship later turned into romance after Messi returned home in 2005, according to accounts cited by the outlet.
Messi has often said family has helped keep him grounded during his rise to global fame. He told Marca in 2019 that he admired many things about Roccuzzo, including her personality, intelligence and the way she handles daily life and problems.
The couple kept their family life largely private as Messi’s career took off, though they have occasionally shared photos of their children and appeared together at tournaments. They were married in Rosario on June 30, 2017, in a ceremony that drew major attention in the city.
