Family
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all time, is married to Antonella Rocuzzo and they have three sons: Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Messi’s love for his family has shown in many ways, including celebrating his partner’s pregnancy during games, getting his mother’s face tattooed on his left shoulder and running professional affairs as a family business. Messi’s father Jorge has been his agent since he was 14, while his brother Rodrygo handles his daily schedule and publicity. His mother and another brother, Mathias, run his charity, the Messi Foundation, and handle personal and professional affairs in their hometown of Rosario.
Country of Citizenship
Born and raised in Argentina, Lionel Messi now holds triple citizenship as a naturalized Spaniard and is also eligible for Italian citizenship due to his family heritage. His paternal ancestors were from Recanati or possibly Ancona, Italy, and the ancestor Angelo Messi emigrated to Argentina in 1883. Although Messi had the option to play for Spain due to his triple nationality and even received an offer to join the Spanish U20 team in 2004, he ultimately declined and remained true to his Argentine roots. Messi led Argentina to the FIFA Youth Championship in 2005 and said he would never play for Spain and his love for Argentina would never change.
Hobbies
Despite leaving for Spain at the age of 13, Lionel Messi has maintained strong ties to his hometown of Rosario, where he keeps ownership of his family’s old house and a penthouse apartment for his mother. He often visits his family in Rosario, even making a three-hour trip after practice with the national team to have dinner with them. He stays in daily contact with his close friends from Rosario and plans to end his playing career at Newell’s Old Boys. Messi also holds triple citizenship and enjoys traditional South American barbecue, milanesa, and unsweetened mate.
Charity
Lionel Messi has been involved in charitable efforts throughout his career, particularly in supporting vulnerable children. He is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and he founded the Leo Messi Foundation to provide healthcare, education, and sport opportunities for children. He also invests in youth football in Argentina and has supported various clubs and players. Messi has donated to various causes, including fighting COVID-19 and supporting museums and hospitals. He has paid the salaries of national team staff members and has auctioned off his signed shirts for charity. Messi’s efforts have raised awareness and provided support for those in need.
Statue
Lionel Messi has been honored with a larger-than-life statue at a ceremony in his home nation, Argentina, where he was emotional upon its reveal. The statue will be housed in the CONMEBOL museum in Paraguay, alongside Pele and Diego Maradona. Standing next to the lifelike figure, Messi, who is 5ft 7in, appeared smaller in size. Fans declared Messi the winner of the ‘statue battle’ against his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, whose statue in Madeira was mocked after its unveiling in 2017 and only lasted 17 months before being replaced.
