News Nation Logo

Lionel Messi to tie knot with childhood love Antonella Roccuzzo, 'first lady of football'

Celebrity Magazines Have Dubbed Brunette Mother-of-two Antonella Roccuzzo The First Lady Of Football -- Her Man, Lionel Messi, Is Widely Considered The Best Player On The Planet.

PTI | Updated on: 30 Jun 2017, 01:01:28 PM
Messi to tie knot with Antonella Roccuzzo,

Rosario:

Celebrity magazines have dubbed brunette mother-of-two Antonella Roccuzzo "the first lady of football" -- her man, Lionel Messi, is widely considered the best player on the planet.

Showbiz and football stars will attend their wedding on Friday in the couple's hometown of Rosario, Argentina. But friends in their home city in northern Argentina insist the two are humble folk who have never forgotten where they come from.

Seen as a man of few words, the millionaire Barcelona striker lets his feet do the talking -- and his bride inpublic says even less. Her family members have also avoided talking to the crowds of reporters who have invaded the city ahead of thewedding.

Roccuzzo's father Jose is the owner of a chain of local supermarkets, Unico. He was formerly president of a regional supermarket owners' association. Apart from that, he is said to be a keen fan of Newell's Old Boys -- Messi's boyhood club in Rosario.

Also Read: Maradona believes Messi is better than Ronaldo

'Messi's girl'

Roccuzzo grew up in the upper middle-class Bella Vist a district and went to a private school, says one friend of the family who asked not to be named. Diego Vallejos, a childhood friend and neighbor of the Messis, told AFP the couple met aged nine and Messi "fell in love forever at first sight" with Roccuzzo.

"We will always remember Antonella as being around this neighborhood and as being Messi's girl," said another friend, Franco Lentini, who grew up in the same modest neighborhood as the player.

In Pics: Messi's LOVE Antonella Roccuzzo; check out some special memories here

"They are the love of each other's lives," said Vallejos. Messi moved to Spain aged 13 to join FC Barcelona, but hekept telephoning Roccuzzo and writing her letters.

Also Read: Lionel Messi to get married to childhood love Antonella Roccuzzo, here is all you need to know about star-studded evening

- Shoe shop -

Sources close to Roccuzzo's family say she started courses in communications and odontology but did not finishthem. Instead she moved to Spain to join Messi.

She opened a luxury shoe shop there this year along with her friend Sofia Balbi, wife of Messi's Barcelona strike partner, Uruguay's Luis Suarez.    

World media started to widely identify Roccuzzo as Messi's girlfriend shortly before he played in the 2010 WorldCup.

She gave birth to their children, Thiago, in 2012 and Mateo in 2015. At Friday's wedding Roccuzzo will wear a dress by Spanish designer Rosa Clara. She has been photographed in dresses by the designer at various footballing award ceremonies and functions.

Also Read: Messi's hometown, old and childhood friends brace for celeb wedding

The designer has also dressed stars such as actresses Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara as well as Spain's Queen Letizia.

For all the Latest Sports News News, Football News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

First Published : 30 Jun 2017, 12:13:00 PM

Videos