Lionel Messi's family tree: Meet the wife, kids, parents and more about soccer legend's roots

JUMP TO:

• Lionel Messi dad: Jorge Messi
• Lionel Messi mom: Celia Cuccittini
• Lionel Messi brothers: Rodrigo and Matias Messi
• Lionel Messi sister: Maria Sol Messi
• Lionel Messi wife: Antonela Roccuzzo
• How many kids does Messi have?
• Where is Lionel Messi from?

For a star of his caliber — undoubtedly one of soccer's all-time greats — Lionel Messi keeps plenty of parts about his life fairly private.

While Argentina's captain spends most of his time in the public eye, from his record-breaking performances in the World Cup, time on MLS's Inter Miami, billion-dollar net worth and even receiving honors like a Presidential Medal of Freedom, Messi has largely kept his family out of that spotlight.

The soccer star has been married since 2017 and has children, on top of some of his immediate family members playing their own roles in his career and brand.

Here's everything known about those closest to Messi.

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Lionel Messi dad: Jorge Messi

Lionel Messi's dad is Jorge Messi. He has been the soccer star's agent since he was 14, managing Messi's business affairs — including accompanying the young player to Barcelona for a tryout in 2000.

"I always say the same: What makes me proud is who Leo is as a person," Jorge said in the 2011 book "My Son the Soccer Player: The Secrets of the World's Greatest Players as Told by Their Parents," according to Soccer America. "Of course, as he's triumphed in the sport of soccer, we are proud of him, but what we care about most is that he's a good person. [We] are all proud of him for that."

As a young soccer player, it was Jorge who took Lionel to Spain, convincing officials at FC Barcelona to pay for the future star's hormone treatment for a growth deficiency, per The Guardian.

Jorge has also negotiated Messi's contracts with Barcelona and transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while also managing his son's image rights and several investments in real estate, hotels and restaurants. Per ESPN, in 2016, Messi and his father were convicted in Spain on tax evasion charges but avoided prison time because the sentence was less than two years.

In June 2026, shortly after the start of the World Cup, Messi's family confirmed that Jorge, 68, was dealing with a health issue.

"He is currently under medical supervision, recovering, and progressing favorably within his current condition," the family said to ESPN. "Given the versions, rumors, and speculation that have circulated in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep displeasure at the lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter."

"The family also wishes to clarify that only his closest family members have accurate and reliable information about Jorge's condition. Therefore, any version, statement, or information that does not come from the family itself and its official channels should not be considered valid or true. At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence, and compassion.

"A person's health and the peace of mind of those around them should not be subject to speculation or irresponsible media interest. We sincerely appreciate the expressions of affection, respect, and concern received, and we request that the privacy, confidentiality, and intimacy of Jorge and his entire family be respected during this process. Any relevant updates will be communicated promptly by the family and through the appropriate channels."

Prior to that statement, Lionel Messi was seen emotional after scoring vs. Algeria in the World Cup, later saying that "it was something completely unrelated to football." 

MORE: Inside Lionel Messi's goals since turning 30

Lionel Messi mom: Celia Cuccittini

Messi's mom is Celia Messi. She also plays a role in the Argentina star's business affairs; Celia helps run the Leo Messi Foundation, Messi's charity, on top of any other personal/professional matters from the family's hometown of Rosario.

Messi has been public with his close relationship to his mother many times in the past, including in January 2011, when he was fined and given a yellow card for lifting his jersey in front of a camera to reveal an undershirt with the handwritten words, "Feliz cumple mami," which translates in English to "Happy birthday mommy," per The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Messi also has a portrait tattoo of his mother on his left shoulder.

"Leo is a divine son, a beautiful brother, a better father and an incredible husband," Celia said of Lionel on the show "El Diario de Mariana" in June 2018, per ESPN.

MORE: What Lionel Messi has said about retirement

Lionel Messi brothers: Rodrigo and Matias Messi

One of Messi's two older brothers is Rodrigo. He is the oldest sibling of the family, and he helps run Lionel's daily schedule and other publicity details alongside Jorge Messi.

Messi's other older brother is Matias Messi. His role in the family's support of the soccer star has been assisting their mother with managing the Leo Messi Foundation.

While Messi's siblings largely stay out of the public eye, growing up, they lived in a two-story home on the Calle Lavalleja, a residential area of the city near the Parana River, per The Athletic.

MORE: Where Messi's 2026 run ranks among most single-World Cup goals

Lionel Messi sister: Maria Sol Messi

Lionel Messi's younger sister is Maria Sol Messi. In 2024, she was announced as the Senior Director of Brand Strategy and Creative at the soccer star's production company, 525 Rosario.

Prior to then, Maria Sol was the Chief Creative Officer at Stars Connections and the Brand Manager of Lionel's fashion brand called The Messi Store.

"It is a dream come true," María Sol said when The Messi Store was announced, per Sports Illustrated's SPORT. "Fashion is what I like the most, ever since I was a child, and it was always a dream of mine to be involved with a clothing brand. I studied a lot to dedicate myself to this profession. When an opportunity such as this one presents itself, you have to take advantage of it."

MORE: Everything we know about Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami

Lionel Messi wife: Antonela Roccuzzo

Lionel Messi's wife is Antonela Roccuzzo. The two first confirmed their relationship in January 2009, but they've been together since 2008 and married since 2017. 

Roccuzzo is the cousin of one of Messi's childhood friends, Lucas Scaglia — the two had known each other since a young age, then reconnected as adults. They were married in their home city, Rosario, in June 2017.

In 2019, when asked about his favorite qualities in his wife, Messi told Spanish newspaper Marca that he admires “everything.”

Together, the couple has since welcomed three sons. While Roccuzzo has largely stayed out of the spotlight during Messi's incredible career, she can occasionally be spotted supporting him in-person.

On Instagram, Roccuzzo also has an active presence, sharing photos of her family. After Argentina's win to head to the 2026 World Cup final, she shared a photo with her three sons, all wearing Messi jerseys:

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How many kids does Messi have?

Lionel Messi has three kids, all sons, with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.

The couple welcomed their first child in 2012. Messi celebrated the couple's news of expecting a child by putting a ball under his shirt after scoring in Argentina's win over Ecuador in June 2012, later confirming the pregnancy in an interview.

Lionel Messi sons

Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo have three sons. The oldest is Thiago, who was born in 2012.

Shortly after Thiago was born, Messi got his name and handprints tattooed on his calf, per People. Messi has been vocal about the importance of family in his life, saying in 2013 that "My son has changed my life more than the Ballon d'Or [awards] have," per Bleacher Report.

Like his father, Thiago took up soccer at a young age, previously playing for Barcelona's academy, then joining Inter Miami's under-12 squad in 2023 when Messi went to MLS. 

The couple's second son is Mateo, who they welcomed in 2015.

"Mateo is very special, he's always doing new things, things that grab your attention," Messi told Marca in October 2019, per ESPN UK.

After Argentina's loss to Saudi Arabia in November 2022, Messi told reporters that Mateo left the stadium crying, according to The Mirror.

"Mateo left the stadium crying after the first game (against Saudi Arabia) and Thiago came out counting telling me that if we won both games we would qualify," Messi said. "My family suffer the same as all Argentines, but we are happy and we get comfortable again because now our progress depends on us."

The youngest son to Messi and Roccuzzo is Ciro, who was born in 2018. The Argentina star has gotten all three of his sons names tattooed on his calf.

Ciro is a member of Inter Miami's U8 team, per People. A clip of him doing an interview went viral in 2026, saying after a match that "we played well because we listened to the coach."

Where is Lionel Messi from?

Messi is from Rosario, Santa Fe Province, in Argentina. He was the third of four children to Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini. 

Joining his local football club, Abanderado Grandol, at the age of four, being coached by his father. When he was seven years old, Messi began playing for the Rosario-based football club, Newell's Old Boys, later joining Barcelona's youth system around age 13.