Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo has paid an emotional tribute to the Argentina captain after their extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, calling him “a unique person” and “an inspiration to millions” despite the crushing loss.
The 37-year-old, who has hinted this could be his last World Cup, was consoled publicly by his partner of many years, as speculation grows over whether he will now retire from international football.
Messi’s Argentina were beaten 1-0 after extra time by Spain, denying him a second consecutive world title after lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022.
‘You never give up – you fight until the end’
Posting on Instagram, Antonela Roccuzzo set aside the disappointment of the result to highlight what she described as her husband’s true definition of success.
She wrote: “شكرا لك لانك تظهر لنا كل يوم ان النجاح الحقيقي يقوم على العمل الجاد والتضحية والمثابرة، وعلى الا ننسى ابدا من نحن حقا”.
“ستظل دايما الافضل، ليو ميسي. ليس فقط بسبب موهبتك، بل لانك بقيت دايما وفيا لنفسك. لانك – مهما حدث – لا تستسلم ابدا؛ فانت تقاتل دايما حتى النهاية وتبذل قصارى جهدك حتى اللحظة الاخيرة”.
Roccuzzo went on to say that what sets Messi apart is not only his achievements on the pitch but his resilience in adversity.
“هذه القوة، وهذه الروح، وقدرتك الدايمة على النهوض بعد كل هزيمة، تجعلك شخصا فريدا. انت خير قدوة لاطفالنا ومصدر الهام لملايين الناس”.
The couple, who have known each other since childhood in Rosario, married in 2017 and have three sons – Thiago, Mateo and Ciro Messi.
In a final message, she added: “انا معجبة بك اكثر مما يمكن للكلمات ان تعبر عنه، وانا فخورة للغاية بان اسير معك في رحلة الحياة. احبك كثيرا”.
From temporary retirement to historic titles
Messi’s latest World Cup disappointment comes at the end of one of the most decorated international careers in football history.
The forward made his senior international debut for Argentina in the summer of 2008 against Hungary. Since then he has amassed 207 caps (including that first appearance) and scored 125 goals for his country, 21 of them at World Cup finals.
With Argentina, he has won:
– The World Cup in 2022
– The Copa America in 2021
– Another Copa America title in 2024
Those triumphs followed a turbulent period in 2016, when Messi briefly stepped away from the national team after a series of final defeats. He reversed his decision just two months later, with those close to him saying it was driven by “love for his country and his shirt”.
That return marked the beginning of the most successful era of his international career, culminating in the long-awaited World Cup win in Qatar and back-to-back continental titles.
Future with Argentina in doubt
The defeat by Spain has once again raised the question of how much longer Messi will continue with the “Albiceleste”.
Officially, his international future remains undecided. But a series of recent comments from the player, combined with his age and the physical demands of top-level football, have fuelled expectation that he may soon call time on his Argentina career.
For now, however, the focus among many Argentina supporters has turned to gratitude rather than disappointment – a sentiment mirrored in Antonela Roccuzzo’s message, which placed his character and example above the latest result on the pitch.
