Lionel Messi will have his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, by his side as he competes in his sixth World Cup tournament
Antonela Roccuzzo has stolen the headlines ahead of Lionel Messi’s first game at the World Cup 2026(Image: Ronald Wittek/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo has left tongues wagging after flaunting her stunning figure in a bikini ahead of Argentina’s World Cup 2026 opener.
The long-time partner of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is supporting him in his joint-record sixth appearance at the summer tournament. The current World Cup champions begin their campaign at 2am UK time on Wednesday against Algeria.
Despite the fanfare surrounding Messi, it’s Antonela that has been hitting the headlines thanks to her recent Instagram post. The 38-year-old posed in a sumptuous leopard print bikini on a sun lounger and shielded her face with a brown hat created by Ukrainian designer brand Ruslan Baginskiy.
Antonela Roccuzzo stunned her fans with her Instagram post(Image: Instagram/antonelaroccuzzo)
Fans in the comments section couldn’t compliment Antonela’s tanned and toned body enough. Her fellow WAGs Sofia Balbi, the wife of Luis Suarez, and Elena Galera, the wife of Sergio Busquets, commented heart emojis on the post which has since been liked over 2.3million times.
Antonela is expected to be at Kansas City Stadium for Argentina’s opener with Messi set to make history just by stepping onto the pitch. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa also participating in their sixth World Cup tournament, Messi will be the first player to officially compete in all six, with Portugal playing on Wednesday evening and Ochoa playing back-up to Mexico’s Raul Rangel.
The records don’t stop there for the 38-year-old, who’ll reach 200 appearances for Argentina should he feature against Algeria. With 13 World Cup goals, he stands just three short of the all-time record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
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The 38-year-old was wearing a T-shirt with Messi’s face on it(Image: Instagram/antonelaroccuzzo)
The couple have three children together(Image: antonelaroccuzzo/X)
Speaking after Argentina’s final friendly against Iceland, Messi admitted he doubted he’d be able to play in the 2026 tournament. He said: “There had been doubts because of what I said at the previous World Cup, that I thought it would be difficult for me to play in another one because so many years had to pass.”
He described himself as “excited as ever” as the possibility remains for Argentina to become the first team since Pele’s Brazil sides of 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles. He added: “But I kept feeling good and taking things day by day.
“I had the opportunity to play, get into rhythm, get minutes on the pitch and gradually feel better. It happened naturally. I’m happy, enjoying every moment and now I’m also as excited as ever.”
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