Lionel Messi may be famous for conquering every soccer pitch, and lifting every trophy but behind the bright stadium lights and the cheers of the crowd is his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, who was his greatest supporter long before the world knew his name.
So, who is the woman who holds the heart of the of one of the greatest soccer stars of all time?
Here's what we know about her and her fairytale romance with Lionel.
When did Lionel Messi meet his wife?
Their romance began many years ago when Lionel met his wife in Argentina at the age of five. Lionel was friends with Antonela's cousin, Lucas Scagilia and whenever she came to stay, the future footballer would find an excuse to visit. They became childhood friends and when Lionel moved to Barcelona at the age of 13, they stayed in contact.
When Antonela's best friend tragically died in a car crash five years later, Lionel, flew back to Argentina to comfort her, and a romance ensued. However, their relationship only became public in 2009.
Antonela is a professional model
Antonela originally went to university in Argentina to study dentistry. But the couple couldn't bear to be apart and she quit her studies to move to Barcelona.
She's often described as the First Lady of Football, however Antonela is far more than just a famous spouse. She's a successful model, dedicated philanthropist, and entrepreneur in her own right, Antonela has built an independent lifestyle brand and a social media empire with over 40 million followers.
© lionel messiAntonela is incredibly supportive of her husband's career and she rarely misses his games.
How many children do Lionel and Antonela have?
They are proud parents to their three boys, Thiago, Matteo and Ciro. Lionel opened up about parenthood and his family to FC Barcelona when he said: "You grow and you learn. You gather experience in all aspects of life, on and off the field. But, as a human being, having three children changed my perspective on life, my way of thinking and it also helped me grow."
© getty imagesWhen did Lionel Messi get married?
The soccer star tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart in 2017 in a lavish Argentinian ceremony. Their nuptials were hosted at a luxury hotel in the city of Rosario where they grew up.
More than 260 people attended and those included soccer players Luis Suárez, Neymar, and Gerard Piqué.
© GETTY IMAGESLionel adores his wife
Three decades after they first met, Lionel adores Antonela more than ever.
He told FC Barcelona: "I really admire how she deals with the day to day, she is always in a good mood and she approaches problems admirably. She is highly intelligent and well rounded in all aspects of life."
