How Many Kids Does Lionel Messi Have?
Lionel “Leo” Messi, considered one of the greatest football players of all time, has three children with his longtime partner, Antonella Roccuzzo. Messi and Roccuzzo have been together since late 2008 and got married in 2017.
Their first son, Thiago, was born in November 2012 in Barcelona. Thiago has followed in his father’s footsteps and plays football for youth teams. Their second son Mateo was born in September 2015, also in Barcelona where Messi played professional football for FC Barcelona. The youngest, Ciro, was born in March 2018.
So in summary, Lionel Messi has three sons:
- Thiago Messi (Born 2012)
- Mateo Messi (Born 2015)
- Ciro Messi (Born 2018)
All three boys were born while Messi played for FC Barcelona, and the family continues to live in the area even after Messi transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Lionel Messi’s Long-Term Relationship with Wife Antonella
Messi met his future wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina when he was just 9 years old. Roccuzzo is the cousin of Messi’s best friend, Lucas Scaglia.
As children they ran in similar circles, but their romance did not start until after Messi moved to Spain to pursue his football career as a teenager. He moved to Barcelona to join the youth academy of FC Barcelona as a 13-year old. Though they were apart, Messi and Roccuzzo remained in touch.
After reconnecting in person while Messi and Roccuzzo were both back in Rosario for the holidays in late 2008, they began a long-distance relationship between Spain and Argentina. This turned more serious over the next few years. Though they kept their relationship private, Roccuzzo eventually moved to Barcelona to be with Messi full-time.
Settling Down for Family Life
Committed to Roccuzzo, Messi moved from FC Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia into his own Barcelona apartment by the age of 18. From a young age, he focused both on his blossoming football career as well as rooting himself with a family life in Catalonia.
This proved a wise choice – his longstanding relationship with Roccuzzo has given Messi stability in his personal life even with the pressures from football fame. The contrast of his family life to his celebrity status is evident in his rare social media posts, which almost exclusively feature his wife and children.
In June 2017 Messi and Roccuzzo got married in a low-key wedding celebration in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina. Many Barcelonalocals expressed their excitement that Messi was “one of them” by marrying his longtime girlfriend and mother of his children.
Guests at the wedding included some of Messi’s famous FC Barcelona teammates like Luis Suarez, as well as worldwide football stars like Cesc Fabregas.
A Close and Loving Family
Despite Messi’s fame and fortune from his legendary football career, he remains firmly grounded in family life with Roccuzzo and their three sons. They have raised their children to stay humble as well.
Messi keeps his personal life fairly private, sharing only small glimpses on his Instagram page with over 367 million followers. Images shared include family vacations, birthdays, and football successes.
Fans especially delight in getting any peek at his three adorable children supporting their father wearing little Barcelona or PSG jerseys. It’s clear from Messi’s social media that his family is his top priority.
While speculation will surely continue about potential future children for the family, Lionel Messi currently has three children with wife Antonella Roccuzzo – all boys: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro Messi. And his wife and sons are likely to remain Messi’s greatest accomplishment as he continues to make history on the pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lionel Messi’s Family
Here are some commonly asked questions about Lionel Messi’s personal life with wife Antonella and sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro:
How did Lionel Messi meet his wife?
Lionel Messi met Antonella Roccuzzo as a child in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina. Roccuzzo is the cousin of Messi’s best friend growing up. They began dating in late 2008 after Messi moved to Spain to pursue football and Roccuzzo graduated university in Argentina.
Where did Lionel Messi’s children be born?
All three of Lionel Messi’s children were born in Barcelona, Spain while he played professional football with FC Barcelona – Thiago in 2012, Mateo in 2015, and Ciro in 2018.
Does Lionel Messi post pictures with his family?
Yes, but sparingly. Messi keeps most of his family life very private. On his Instagram page followed by 367+ million fans, he occasionally shares pictures with his wife and children especially to celebrate birthdays and other milestones.
Has Antonella Roccuzzo had work done?
There are rumors that Antonella Roccuzzo has had cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty (a nose job). However these rumors are unconfirmed and should be disregarded without actual proof.
Where do Lionel Messi’s children go to school?
It is believed Lionel Messi’s children attend private school in the Barcelona area near their family home. The name of the school has not been publicly shared. This allows Messi’s children a fairly normal childhood and school experience despite their famous father.