While Argentina might not have taken home the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi is still a sporting icon and one of football's most beloved players. He's played in the international competition six times, played in a final three times, in 2014, 2022 and in 2026, winning once.
Find out about the Argentinian star's success on and off the pitch, including his three supportive sons, including one who could be following in his footsteps...
© Getty ImagesLionel brings talent, grit and consistency to the game
Sporting success
Lionel Messi has played in a total of 34 World Cup matches across six competitions. He's scored 21 goals in total, taking second place to Mbappé's 22 and has a record number of assists at 12.
At club level, Messi's statistics are otherworldly. His stats combined with the three clubs he has played for, Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami, he has scored 729 goals and assisted 319 times in 882 total club appearances.
Lionel and Antonela tied the knot in 2017
Married life
Lionel met his wife Antonela Roccuzzo when they were just children, with the football star crushing hard on his friend's visiting cousin, and reconnected in 2005.
Antonela went on to study dentistry but dropped out after six months to move to Barcelona and be closer to Lionel. The pair married in 2017 and share three children.
© dpa/picture alliance via Getty IThiago is the oldest of Lionel Messi's three children
Thiago Messi Roccuzzo
Lionel Messi welcomed his first child on 2 November 2012, when Antonela gave birth to their oldest son Thiago. To celebrate his new status as a father, Lionel had his son's name and handprints tattooed onto his calf.
Like his dad, Thiago is taking to the pitch, starting out as a member of Barcelona's football academ. A short video released from the pitch was enough to show off Thiago's early talent as he scored a goal during a match with the team in 2020. Thiago joined Inter Miami's youth academy following his father's move, and is a highly regarded player, also wearing his famous dad's number 10.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesMateo shares his father's competitive spirit
Mateo Messi Roccuzzo
Lionel and Antonela's second child arrived on 11 September 2015. Son Mateo reportedly takes after his father, with Lionel explaining: "Mateo is the same as me when I was little, he doesn't like to lose anything."
His second son plays in the Inter Miami Academy system and it seems his father couldn't be prouder. He told Marca in the same interview, "Mateo is very special, he's always doing new things, things that grab your attention".
© WireImage via Getty ImagesCiro is the youngest of Lionel and Antonela's three children
Ciro Messi Roccuzzo
Ciro was born on 10 March 2018 and seems to also take after his father, copying brother Mateo's fearless nature. Lionel explained in 2022, "He copies Mateo a lot, and they go against me a lot."
Both of his parents have commemorated their children's births with permanent reminders. Lionel has all of his kids' names on his calf while Antonela has her children's names on her hands and arm. Ciro is also set for footballing success as a member of Inter Miami's U8 team.
