Married, holidays with Suarez and $9m Miami apartment

Lionel Messi has become one of the biggest names in sporting history, but, unlike some of his counterparts, he remains relatively quiet off the pitch. 

Former teammate Achraf Hakimi once described the World Cup winner as ‘simple and quiet’ – which comes as no surprise considering his shy demeanor at press events. 

Messi is known for being a family man, spending time with his three sons – Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5, – as well as his wife Antonela Roccuzzo. 

However, the 36-year-old football icon is still human and enjoys the lavish lifestyle that comes with being one of the best soccer players of all time.  

Mail Sport have taken a dive into Messi’s life off the pitch – looking at everything from his relationship with his childhood sweetheart to his luxurious apartment in Miami. 

Messi married his childhood sweetheart 

Messi met his wife for the first time in the 90s in their hometown, Rosario. The Argentine was just five years old when he met the love of his life.

Antonela was the cousin of Messi’s childhood friend Lucas Scaglia. The two love birds ended up spending a substantial amount of time together when they were young.

Messi and Antonela’s relationship blossomed during their younger years and the pair kept in contact when the No. 10 left for Barcelona at the age of 13. Then, in 2008, Messi and Antonela made their relationship public. 

Messi and Antonela welcomed their first son Thiago into the world in 2012 before having two more sons Mateo (2015) and Ciro (2018). 

The pair tied the not in 2017 in a lavish wedding at a luxury hotel in the heart of Rosario – but more to come on that later. 

Messi’s admiration for his wife is clear. Having been asked about Antonela in the past, Messi said: ‘The truth is that I admire everything about her. 

‘She has many good qualities: how she gets by on a daily basis; her personality; she is always in a good mood; and she always faces up to problems in an admirable way.’

The World Cup winner finished by saying: ‘She is a very intelligent person who is great in all aspects of life.’

Messi and Antonela’s lavish wedding 

Messi and Antonela’s wedding was one to remember. More than 250 friends and family – including some of soccer’s biggest names – jetted to Argentina, to watch the sporting star get married at the plush hotel complex – the City Centre Complex – in Rosario. 

Mobile phones were banned from the event and staff were sworn to secrecy. Messi also drafted in 450 police officers to help keep things under control for their big day. 

Selected members of the press were lined up outside the entrance to venue and guests were given the choice as to whether they wanted to walk down the red carpet to be interviewed and photographed or go through a discreet side entrance. 

Samuel Eto’o was the first guest to walk along the red carpet and past the world’s press, followed by Sergio Aguero. Cesc Fabregas and Daniella Semaan were next to make an appearance before Ezequiel Lavezzi made his way to the hotel.

Neymar was also in attendance, while the likes of Xavi Alonso and Carles Puyol were also spotted on the red carpet. 

Female guests were reportedly encouraged to bring three dresses to avoid clashes or repeats of clothes, or even colors and textures, while male guests were told to take three different types of shirts. 

The wedding itself was a success. Messi and Antonela took their wedding vows with their eldest son Thiago sitting inches away from them. 

Messi also showed his romantic side by arranging for Argentinian singer Abel Pintos to surprise Antonela by ending the ceremony with her favorite song, Sin Principio ni final (Without Beginning or End).

Guests at the wedding also received a bottle of Messi’s own budget brand of wine – which sells for $20 – as a souvenir from the big day.  

So, who is Antonela? 

Antonela is known primarily for being Messi’s wife but she is a successful woman within her own right. 

She went to university in Argentina and obtained a bachelor’s degree in humanities and social sciences from the National University of Rosario. 

Antonela was planning to complete a postgraduate degree in dentistry but reportedly pulled out of the course to move closer to Messi and support his career endeavors.

Antonela went on to sign a modeling contract with designer Ricky Sarkany in 2016 before opening a boutique for the Argentinian footwear brand Sarkany in 2017 alongside Luis Suarez’s wife Sofia Balbi. 

She has her own clothing range and regularly shares photos of herself sporting the garments she sells. 

Antonela is also regarded as an influencer given her following on Instagram. As it stands, the 35-year-old has 36 million followers. Her husband does obviously have loads more – 477 million, in fact.

School runs and family time in gated community 

During his time with Barcelona, Messi lived in a small beach town of Bellamar. It provided him an element of privacy that is almost unthinkable for a man of his stature. 

The Bellamar neighborhood – a beach town south of Barcelona, with four miles of sand and set back in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean – has long been the go-to gated community for top local sportspeople.

Neymar, Javier Mascherano and basketball star Pau Gasol have all had property there. Philippe Coutinho moved in when he joined Barcelona from Premier League giants Liverpool. 

In the comfort of his own home, Messi could enjoy a kickabout with his sons on the floodlit miniature football pitch in the backyard, relax by the pool, gaze out across the ocean and even indulge in the occasional barbecue.

Messi could also stroll down the road to pick up his children from school – something that would be almost impossible if he was to live in a regular town. 

Family holidays with Cesc Fabregas and Luis Suarez 

Messi enjoys holidaying with his former Barcelona teammates Cesc Fabregas and Suarez. The trio are regularly seen enjoying their time off together with their wives and children. 

Their most recent holiday came in June 2022 when the trio rented a $334,000-a-week house-share in Ibiza to celebrate Messi’s 35th birthday.

The expensive mansion had six bedrooms, a gym and a 20m swimming pool, according to a report by Spanish outlet Diario AS, with 22 members of staff on hand, too.

The three families were also seen enjoying time on a $11,000 a day yacht called the Shalimar II in the Mediterranean. 

The 25m long yacht reportedly had four cabins, luxury sofas on the exterior and a special VIP suite as well.

Messi played six seasons with Suarez at Barcelona where the pair won 14 trophies together.

The Argentina star also played with Fabregas with Barcelona at youth team level and in the first team from 2011-2014. The pair remain close despite their different career paths.

Messi and his family globe-trotting

Messi is known for enjoying his time off and is regularly seen jetting abroad to spend some well-earned time with his family. Messi’s most recent holiday came in January 2023. 

The Argentinian, who was on a high after winning the World Cup in December 2022, hit the Alps with his wife and three sons. 

They were seen exploring their surroundings and taking in the scenery, while also enjoying some downtime in a heated outdoor pool.

Messi and his family were also pictured out on the slopes – with Antonela sporting a glamorous pink jacket as their children practiced their skiing skills. 

They appeared to be staying at the Hotel MIM Baqueira – which is set at the foot of some of the finest ski slopes in the Pyrenees. 

The hotel – which was built in 2009 – is currently managed by Majestic Hotel Group and owned by Messi. 

The hotel has 140 rooms spread over seven floors including double rooms, duplexes for four people and suites.

It also has a spa area comprising a hydrotherapy circuit with a dynamic pool, an outdoor jacuzzi and a series of spa treatments. 

Messi’s $9m Miami apartment 

According to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, the World Cup winner bought a Miami apartment in the Porsche Design Tower all the way back in 2019.

The Porsche Design Tower, which was built in 2017, is the perfect place for the family to settle down in America, as the forward wants his three children to go to high school in the States before going to university.

The 60-floor tower is situated between Bal Harbour and Aventura and is located 25 minutes away from the Inter Miami stadium.

It has stunning views of the surrounding area, including Miami Beach, which is located just seconds away from the tower.

The building boasts several lifts designed exclusively for residents’ cars, allowing owners to park their vehicles in their exclusive suite.

As well as car lifts, the apartment has its own private restaurant, an outdoor lounge that faces the sea.

Messi’s jaw-dropping new home also features a cinema, golf and racing simulators, which offers perfect downtime opportunities for his family.

Miami has traditionally proven to be a safe hub for real estate investors, many of whom come from overseas.

Specifically, the city is home to one of America’s largest Latino populations and according to the National Association of Realtors, more than half of Miami’s foreign real estate buyers come from Latin America.