- Lionel Messi was captured at 10 posing with chilhood sweetheart Antonela on a beach back in 1998
- Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo in a classy ceremony in Rosario in 2017
- The Argentine and his wife have three children - Thiago, Mateo and Ciro
Lionel Messi's photo at 10 in company of childhood sweetheart now wife Antonella Roccuzzo during a timeout in Argentina has gone viral on social media platforms
According to Daily Mail reports citing Argentinian newspaper La Capital, who discovered the touching image, revealed Messi and wife as children had a good time at Atlantic holiday resort of Punta Mogotes before growing up to man and woman.
The report further revealed that Messi was playing in an under-age football tournament with Newell's Old Boys in the resort at the time the photo was snapped.
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And Messi was living with a football player Francisco Ludueña, who granted him permission to spend time with teammate Lucas Scaglia and his family, along with their cousin Antonella.
Interestingly, Antonela, who was nine-year-old at that time, was a close friend of the footballer and was in the area in company of her parents during a visit to her cousin Lucas Scaglia, who incidentally was Messi's teammates.
In the photo taken in January 1998, Messi and Antonella were in the company of other children that includes Lucas and another team-mate called Matias Pecce.
During the day off, Antonella's parents took the youngsters to Punta Mogotes, with Messi’s mum and dad back in their native city of Rosario which is over eight-hour away by road.
Reacting about the photo, Bruno Verdenelli, a journalist with La Capital, revealed that he received the image from Messi's ex-teammate Matias Pecce after a lengthy search of the footballer’s photo in Mar del Plata.
Speaking further, he recalled that Messi while playing with Luduena lived at his family house with Pecce during the 1998 tournament, he said: “The two of them told me everything.
”'I couldn't believe I finally had the whole story. I needed the photo. Francisco couldn't find anything and I was really gutted. That's when Matias remembered he had one that was better than I thought and sent it to me immediately.
“The photo had a bonus. Next to Messi was Antonela.”
Interestingly, Messi later wedded his childhood sweetheart Antonela in a classy ceremony on June 30, 2017 in Rosario.
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And today, they are blessed with three children - Thiago, six, Mateo, three, and Ciro, one.
Antonela uploaded an adorable family portrait on her Instagram over the Easter celebration talongside a short message which reads: "Good weekend to everyone. Here with them, as always."
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Lionel Messi was in action as Barcelona defeated Real Socided 2-1 at home as they recorded their 23rd win in 33 La Liga matches.
Real Sociedad dominated the first half but could not make their opportunities count against the side that dispatched Manchester United in the Champions League in midweek.
Barcelona went ahead just before half time after Ousmane Dembele's corner was perfectly headed home by Clement Lenglet to make it 1-0.
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Source: Legit.ng
