You’ve seen the photos of Lionel Messi holding the World Cup, but the most important image from that night in Qatar wasn't him lifting the gold. It was him sitting on the pitch later, surrounded by his wife and three boys, looking like a guy at a Sunday picnic who just happened to win the lottery.
Living in Miami in 2026, Leo seems more relaxed than ever. He’s 38 now. The beard is a bit grayer, and the pace on the pitch has slowed, but his life away from the grass is busier than you'd think. People assume being Messi with his family means constant glitz and private islands. Honestly? It’s a lot more about school runs and arguing over who gets the TV remote.
The Miami Shift: Why the Move Changed Everything
When Messi left Europe, everyone talked about the money or the "retirement league" labels. That’s missing the point. The move to Inter Miami was a family decision, plain and simple. In Barcelona, they were royalty, which sounds great until you can't walk to a bakery without a security detail the size of a small militia.
Paris was worse. It was cold, the fans were grumpy, and the kids struggled to settle. But Florida? It’s different. Messi recently told NBC Nightly News that he likes the "calm" of his new life. He’s been seen at Publix. He goes to his kids' games at the Inter Miami academy. He’s finally living the "normal" dad life he’s been craving since he was a teenager.
He recently signed a contract extension through 2028. Why? Because Antonela and the boys are happy. They’ve settled into a $10.8 million waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale. It has eight bedrooms, a spa, and enough space for three high-energy boys to wreak havoc.
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A Love Story Without the Hollywood Script
The thing about Antonela Roccuzzo is that she isn't a "WAG" in the traditional sense. She’s been there since the beginning. They met in Rosario when they were basically toddlers—Leo was five. He used to write her letters promising they'd be together forever.
It wasn't always easy. He moved to Spain at 13. They drifted. Then, in 2005, a tragedy brought him back to Argentina to support her, and they haven't been apart since. She is the anchor. Messi has admitted he’s "sensitive" and a bit of a homebody. Antonela is the one who keeps the wheels turning while he’s off being a global icon.
Meet the Three Messi Boys: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro
If you think the pressure of being Messi’s son is a lot, you should see them on a Saturday morning. These kids are growing up in the spotlight, but they have very different personalities.
- Thiago (The Mature One): Born in 2012, Thiago is the most like his dad in temperament—quiet and observant. He’s currently playing for the Inter Miami U-12s. Interestingly, he’s not obsessed with being the "next Messi." He likes cars and video games, and according to Leo, he gets tired of football pretty easily sometimes.
- Mateo (The Chaos Agent): This kid is a meme machine. He’s the one who celebrates when his dad’s team loses just to annoy him. He’s incredibly competitive. Leo says Mateo is exactly like he was as a kid—hates losing, loves a scrap, and is always "stealing hearts" with his antics.
- Ciro (The Baby): Born in 2018, Ciro is the shadow. He copies everything Mateo does. He recently scored a banger for the Inter Miami youth team that went viral, proving that maybe the "Messi genes" are well and truly alive in the youngest of the bunch.
Early in 2025, the boys won the Weston Cup with their respective youth teams. It was a "Champions by three!" moment for the family. But don't expect Messi to push them into professional careers. He’s gone on record saying he just wants them to do what makes them happy. If that's football, cool. If not, also cool.
The "Normal" Routine of a Legend
Messi watches TikTok. He really does. In a recent interview with LUZU TV, he admitted he gets sucked into internet rabbit holes just like anyone else. He’s even seen those weird AI-generated videos of himself.
He likes routine. He’s a bit of a neat freak. He needs quiet time to decompress after games, usually watching celebrity gossip shows or some mindless TV to shut his brain off. It’s a jarring contrast to the guy who scores 30-yard free kicks under intense pressure.
Looking Toward the 2026 World Cup
As we move through 2026, the big question is whether Leo will play in the World Cup on American soil. He’s being cautious. He says it depends on his body. He wants to be "useful," not just a mascot on the bench.
But his family will be the deciding factor. The 2022 win was special because the boys were finally old enough to understand what was happening. They cried, they cheered, and they held the trophy. For Messi, the 2026 World Cup is less about adding to his legacy and more about giving his family one last big party.
What to watch for next:
- Inter Miami’s 2026 Preseason: Watch how Messi manages his minutes to stay fit for the summer.
- Youth Academy Milestones: Keep an eye on Thiago and Mateo’s progress in the MLS Next league; they’re starting to find their own rhythm.
- Cipriani Residences: Messi has purchased luxury units in Miami due for completion in 2028, signaling a very long-term stay in the U.S.
To truly understand Messi with his family, you have to stop looking at him as a brand. He’s a guy who spent 20 years under a microscope and finally found a place where he can be a father first and a footballer second. That transition—from the pressure cooker of Europe to the sun-drenched suburbs of Florida—is the real "win" of his career.
Take a leaf out of the Messi playbook: prioritize your inner circle over professional noise. He turned down a billion-dollar offer from Saudi Arabia because his family preferred the lifestyle in Miami. In 2026, that looks like the smartest move he ever made.