Messi and Antonela first crossed paths as children in their hometown. Antonela, the cousin of Messi’s childhood best friend, captured his heart at age nine during a beach vacation. Though they drifted apart during Messi’s early move to Barcelona for La Masia training, fate reunited them in 2007. By 2009, Messi publicly confirmed their relationship, crediting Antonela with grounding him amid the chaos of stardom. “Antonela is everything to me,” Messi told Sport magazine in 2019. “The fact of having her by my side simplifies a lot of things for me.” Their 2017 wedding in Rosario, attended by soccer royalty like Luis Suárez and Cesc Fàbregas, was a fairy-tale affair attended by 250 guests, symbolizing a partnership built on trust and shared dreams. Today, with sons Thiago (11), Mateo (9), and Ciro (7), the family resides in Miami, where Messi thrives with Inter Miami CF.

The rumors ignited in December 2022, during Argentina’s triumphant FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar. After the final victory over France, Sofia Martinez, a seasoned ESPN and TV Publica journalist known for her coverage of the Olympics, Champions League, and Formula One, conducted an emotional on-camera interview with Messi. As Martinez praised his legacy—”I just want to tell you that no matter the results, there’s something nobody can take from you”—Messi’s eyes welled with tears, his gaze soft and appreciative. Fans, poring over slow-motion clips, dubbed it “lovesick eyes,” speculating an affair. Social media exploded with theories, memes, and even fabricated stories of secret rendezvous, amplified by tabloids hungry for scandal.

Martinez, 35, a single mother and trailblazer in sports broadcasting, addressed the frenzy head-on in a January 2025 interview on Argentina’s Telefe program PH: Podemos Hablar. “It made me feel ridiculous to have to clarify,” she said, her voice steady but pained. “A lot of the time when your exposure increases, it brings things that aren’t so good, and my family suffers a lot.” She emphasized the professional nature of their encounters, noting Messi’s interactions with male reporters never sparked similar gossip. “If it were a man interviewing him, no one would question it,” Martinez added, highlighting the gendered double standards in media scrutiny. Far from flirtation, the moment was raw vulnerability: Messi, overwhelmed by national glory and personal sacrifice, connected with Martinez’s empathy as a fellow Argentine honoring a hero.

Messi and Antonela, ever private, have never directly engaged the rumors, but their actions speak volumes. Antonela frequently joins Messi at matches, her Instagram a gallery of family joys—beach days with the boys, quiet anniversaries, and proud posts celebrating Messi’s milestones. In a rare 2023 interview with Hola!, Antonela reflected on their bond: “We’ve grown together through everything. Leo’s my rock, and I’m his.” Insiders confirm the couple’s routine includes weekly date nights and family counseling to navigate fame’s pressures, ensuring their marriage remains a sanctuary.

This episode underscores the pitfalls of celebrity culture, where a heartfelt glance becomes fodder for fantasy. Messi’s “lovesick eyes” were not for Martinez but for the culmination of a lifelong dream, shared with a nation and, above all, his wife. As Messi eyes the 2026 World Cup, his legacy extends beyond goals: a testament to fidelity in a spotlight that forgives no flaw. Antonela stands by him, their love unshakeable, proving that true partnerships endure not despite scrutiny, but because of quiet strength.