Lionel Messi delivered one of the defining performances of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, assisting one goal and scoring another as Argentina roared back from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the quarter-finals in Atlanta.
At 39, playing what teammates describe as his final World Cup, Messi has now scored in a record nine consecutive World Cup matches and leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals. Behind the on-field magic stands a family story three decades in the making: his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three sons.
Messi’s World Cup Magic: The Egypt Comeback Explained
Argentina appeared finished. Yasser Ibrahim’s header and Mostafa Ziko’s counterattack goal had Egypt 2-0 up, and Messi had even missed a first-half penalty, saved by Mostafa Shobeir.
Then came 13 extraordinary minutes. Messi crossed for Cristian Romero’s header in the 79th, smashed home the equalizer himself in the 83rd, and Enzo Fernández headed Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time cross for the winner, the first time in World Cup history a team trailing by two goals in the 75th minute of a knockout match won in regulation.
The goal was Messi’s eighth of the tournament, putting him one clear of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot, and extending his scoring streak to nine straight World Cup matches dating to Argentina’s 2022 title run. Martínez said he was moved seeing Messi get emotional at full-time, telling him on the pitch to enjoy the moment because he deserved it, and that the squad plays above all for him in his last World Cup.
The Love Story: How Messi Met Antonela Roccuzzo
Messi’s romance with Antonela Roccuzzo began long before global fame. The two met as children in Rosario, Argentina. Antonela is the cousin of Messi’s boyhood friend Lucas Scaglia, and Messi was reportedly smitten from around age nine.
Even after moving to Barcelona at 13 to join La Masia, Messi kept the connection alive across an ocean. The pair confirmed their relationship publicly in 2009, when Messi was already a Ballon d’Or winner, and Antonela was studying in Rosario.
They married on June 30, 2017, in their hometown of Rosario, in a ceremony dubbed “the wedding of the century” in Argentina, attended by teammates including Luis Suárez and Neymar. Antonela, a model and businesswoman with tens of millions of social media followers, has remained his constant through every career chapter, Barcelona, Paris, Miami, and two decades of national-team highs and heartbreaks.
Family Life: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro
Messi and Antonela have three sons: Thiago, born in 2012; Mateo, born in 2015; and Ciro, born in 2018. The family settled in South Florida after Messi’s 2023 move to Inter Miami, where the boys have grown up around the club’s academy.
Messi has often said fatherhood changed his relationship with football, teaching him perspective after painful defeats. The family’s celebrations after the 2022 Qatar triumph, Antonela and the boys on the pitch with the trophy, remain among the most shared images in the sport’s history.
Away from the cameras, the Messis are known for a deliberately low-key life: school runs, family dinners, and summers in Rosario. Antonela’s courtside and stadium appearances, often with the three boys in Argentina shirts, have become a fixture of this World Cup.
Messi at 39: Records, Inter Miami and the Road Ahead
Messi turned 39 on June 24, during the group stage of his sixth World Cup, a tournament he has hinted will be his last with Argentina. His Egypt strike moved him two goals clear of Mbappé on the all-time World Cup scoring chart.
Domestically, he remains Inter Miami’s talisman, having extended his Major League Soccer stay beyond the World Cup. The Argentine federation, meanwhile, has carefully managed its minutes through the tournament, a plan that has so far delivered when it matters most.
Argentina, chasing back-to-back titles and a fourth star, will face Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals, one more step in what could be the final act of the greatest career the game has seen.
FAQ
How old is Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
Messi is 39, having celebrated his birthday on June 24 during the tournament. It is his sixth World Cup.
Who is Lionel Messi’s wife?
Antonela Roccuzzo, a model and businesswoman from Rosario, Argentina. They met as children and married in Rosario on June 30, 2017.
How many children does Messi have?
Three sons: Thiago (born 2012), Mateo (2015) and Ciro (2018).
How many goals has Messi scored at the 2026 World Cup?
Eight, the most in the tournament, and he has scored in a record nine consecutive World Cup matches.
Who does Argentina play next?
Argentina face the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia in the quarter-finals after beating Egypt 3-2.
Also Read | Mostafa Ziko: The Egypt Winger Who Pushed Messi’s Argentina to the Brink
Last Updated on July 7, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
