Lionel Messi Moved His 3 Kids to Miami — Get to Know Them
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Married for six years but together for over a decade, Argentinian soccer player Lionel "Leo" Messi and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, have three adorable sons together: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. While playing soccer has always been his first love (in addition to his longtime partner, Roccuzzo, of course), Messi opened up in a 2019 interview about how his kids have shaped his outlook on life: "You grow and you learn. You gather experience in all aspects of life, on and off the field. But, as a human being, having three children changed my perspective on life, my way of thinking, and it also helped me grow."
In 2022, all of Messi's passions seemed to come together when two of his boys rushed out to hug him after his team won the FIFA World Cup. Rocuzzo documented the sweet moment on Instagram, and in the caption, she reflected on what her husband has taught her sons. "I don't even know how to start," Roccuzzo captioned the gallery, per People. "What a great pride we feel for you @leomessi Thank you for teaching us to never give up, that we have to fight it until the end. IT WAS FINALLY DONE YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION, we know what you suffered for so many years, what you wanted to achieve this!!!"
In the summer of 2023, the family underwent a big change when Messi moved his kids to Miami as he transitioned into the US's Major League Soccer. On July 11, Messi shared a sweet family photo of his wife and kids enjoying time in a pool and at a beach on Instagram, showing that the family seems to be settling in well.
From family-vacation posts to outdoor hangouts, the Messi-Roccuzzo kids are often spotted smiling on social media. And soccer fans are eagerly waiting to see which of the three brothers will follow in their father's magical soccer footsteps. Read up on Messi and Roccuzzo's boys ahead.
Thiago Messi Roccuzzo
Thiago Messi Roccuzzo was born on Nov. 2, 2012, and is Messi and Roccuzzo's eldest child. To commemorate the birth of his firstborn son, Messi got Thiago's handprints and name tattooed on his left calf, which also happens to be his dominant leg. Thiago isn't only his father's biggest fan (and sometimes critic) but is also shaping up to be an educated and talented soccer star himself: "Thiago follows soccer every time, he loves it and knows everything about it," Messi told Mundo Deportivo. Messi went on to share that his oldest tags along to his trainings and games, and is always asking questions "not just about Barca, but other teams and matches as well."
Mateo Messi Roccuzzo
Born on Sept. 11, 2015, Mateo Messi Roccuzzo is the middle brother in the Messi-Roccuzzo clan and the couple's second child. According to Messi, he is the jokester of the group and never passes up an opportunity to tease his dad or brothers, including by cheering for the opposing team. And while he may love to give his dad a hard time — especially when it comes to losing a game — Messi shared in a 2019 interview that Mateo is a softie at heart: "Mateo is very special. He's always doing new things, things that grab your attention."
Ciro Messi Roccuzzo
Messi and Roccuzzo welcomed their third baby boy, Ciro Messi Roccuzzo, on March 10, 2018. It's a bit early to tell whether or not he will take after his father's soccer skills; however, one thing we are certain about is how much he looks like his papa! Just like his older brothers, Ciro's name can be found inked on both his parents: his name and birthdate on Messi's leg and his name in cursive on Roccuzzo's outer forearm.