In December 2022, the streets of Argentina saw thousands of children and adults revel in joy as their hero, Lionel Messi, conquered his final and tallest peak by winning the FIFA World Cup. The talismanic marksman helped his nation earn a third star on the iconic blue-and-white jersey.
However, Lionel Messi has had three stars in his life since before winning the 2022 World Cup — his three children. All of Messi’s sons, along with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, were present at the Lusail Stadium on that December evening to celebrate arguably the best moment of the Argentine’s career.
“I don’t even know how to start. What great pride we feel for you @leomessi. Thank you for teaching us to never give up, that we have to fight till the end. FINALLY YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION, we know what you have suffered for so many years, how much you wanted to get this!!!,” read the caption in Roccuzzo’s post after Argentina’s win.
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Even though the 2022 edition was not the first time Messi featured in a World Cup, the Argentine admitted the experience in Qatar was all the more special since all his children were old enough to enjoy the tournament and the victory.
Messi’s boys have spent a great deal of their childhood on football grounds cheering for their father. Oftentimes, they have been a part of the celebrations on the field after a trophy lift. Therefore, it is only natural that all three of them have taken a liking to the sport.
Lionel Messi, however, has been vocal about letting his sons do what makes them happy. It does not matter to him if any or all of his children choose a life away from football. Regardless, the trio are often seen following in the footsteps of their father.
Curious to know more about Lionel Messi’s children? Join us to find out.
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A closer look at Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s kids
Lionel Messi shares all his children with his partner Antonela Roccuzzo. They have known each other for a long time and tied the knot in 2017.
In 2019, Messi’s former club, F.C. Barcelona, published excerpts from an interview of the footballer with Spanish sports paper Marca. The then-number 10 of the Catalan club said that having three children changed his perspective on life forever and helped him grow.
“You grow and you learn. You gather experience in all aspects of life, on and off the field,” Messi said in that interview. “Even though there are few moments of respite at home with three kids, we try to enjoy every second with them, whether it is watching the TV, playing or whatever. We like to stay at home and enjoy these moments.”
On that note, here is a look at all the three kids of Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo in order of their birth, and the age of the children.
Thiago Messi Roccuzzo
Born on:2 November 2012
Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo welcomed their first child, Thiago Messi Roccuzzo, in 2012. In an interview with El Periódico the following year, the former F.C. Barcelona player said, “My son has changed my life more than the Ballon d’Or (awards) have.”
Shortly after his birth, Messi got his eldest son’s name and handprints inked on his calf to prove how much of a lasting impact Thiago had on his life.
The Argentine footballer has also been open about how his priorities in life shifted after becoming a father. “When I look at life, think about each moment, when I analyse every situation… now everything is different,” he told El Periódicoin 2013.
Messi prefers to keep his personal life away from popular media mostly. However, at times he shares details about his children. In 2020, a video of Thiago scoring a goal in a match went viral. Many opined the protégé is on his way to becoming a football star like his father.
Thiago, who is 11 years old as of March 2024, started playing football from a tender age. He was a part of F.C. Barcelona’s academy when Messi was at the Catalan club. With the Argentine legend joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021, his eldest son shifted to the Paris-based club’s academy. At present, Messi is the captain of the MLS side Inter Miami, and Thiago is a member of the club’s under-12 squad.
Mateo Messi Roccuzzo
Born on:11 September 2015
The second of Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s children is Mateo Messi Roccuzzo. On various occasions, the World Cup winner revealed that Mateo and Thiago share contrasting natures.
While Messi describes Thiago as the ‘calm’ sibling, he feels Mateo has inherited his competitiveness. According to the footballing legend, his eldest son has a penchant for cars and motorcycles. Even if he plays football, Thiago supposedly gets tired quite easily.
Mateo, on the other hand, is “a terror, a character.” Messi is particularly fond of his middle child because the ‘young Turk’ is inquisitive, curious and, as a result, experimental in his activities. “Mateo is very special, he’s always doing new things, things that grab your attention,” the Argentine footballer said in an interview with ESPNin October 2019.
Furthermore, Messi’s career greatly influences Mateo’s mood and behaviour. After Argentina suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the captain of the side told the reporters in a post-match press interaction that Mateo left the stadium crying.
To celebrate Mateo’s eighth birthday in 2023, Roccuzzo uploaded a series of pictures on Instagram which showed a playful side of her son. “We love you infinitely,” the mother captioned her post.
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Ciro Messi Roccuzzo
Born on: 10 March 2018
Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s youngest child is named Ciro Messi Roccuzzo. Following his birth, Messi got the name and birth date of his youngest child tattooed on his calf. Roccuzzo, on the other hand, had “Ciro” inked on her arm.
While he is still quite young, Messi, in an interview in 2022, said that Ciro takes after his older brother. “He copies Mateo a lot, and they go against me a lot,” he said.
On the occasion of Ciro’s fifth birthday in 2023, Roccuzzo took to Instagram to share two snaps of her youngest boy. In the first one, he can be seen wearing an Argentine team jersey with the number 10 on it, just like his father. The second picture was a throwback to when Ciro was an infant.
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Roccuzzo wrote a heartfelt caption in Spanish, which translates to “Forever our baby.”
A quick look at the other members of Lionel Messi’s family
We talked about Lionel Messi’s wife and their three children, but what about the rest of the members of his family?
Among everyone in his family, Messi shares the strongest bond with his mother, Celia Cuccittini. He has her face tattooed on his shoulder.
Meanwhile, the footballer’s father, Jorge Messi, has been his agent since he was only 14. Interestingly, it was Messi’s father who taught his son to play football and first spotted the World Cup winner’s natural talent for the sport.
Lionel Messi has three siblings. His eldest brother, Rodrigo Messi, helped him practise and develop his skills in his initial years. Now, he looks after the footballer’s daily schedule and public relations.
His older brother, Matias Messi, runs the World Cup-winner’s charitable trust named Leo Messi Foundation alongside their mother. On the other hand, Messi’s sister, Maria Sol, is an Instagram star with over 200,000 followers.
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(Main and Featured Images Credits: Antonela Roccuzzo/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– How many sons does Lionel Messi have?
Lionel Messi has three sons, Mateo, Thiago and Ciro.
– What is the age of Lionel Messi’s youngest son?
Lionel Messi’s youngest son, Ciro Messi Roccuzzo, is six years old as of March 2024.
