How many children does Lionel Messi have, and do they play football?

LIONEL MESSI has rewritten the World Cup record books, becoming the all-time leading scorer and assist-maker, as well as the oldest player to put away a hat-trick, to name but a few. The GOAT is hoping to lead Argentina to a second successive title as his nation faces Spain in tonight’s blockbuster final. Lionel Messi pictured with his wife and kids Credit: Instagram @leomessi Messi’s sons all play in the Inter Miami Academy And along with wife Antonela Roccuzzo, his children will be cheering him on every step of the way! How many children does Lionel Messi have? Messi has three sons with his wife and childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo, whom he married in June 2017. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Their eldest son Thiago was born on November 2, 2012. Announcing the pregnancy in June of that year, Messi put the ball under his shirt after scoring in Argentina’s 4-0 World Cup qualifier win against Ecuador. read more on Lionel Messi Mateo followed on September 11, 2015, with youngest son Ciro arriving on March 10, 2018. In 2019, Messi told FCBarcelona.com: “As a human being, having three children changed my perspective on life, my way of thinking and it also helped me grow. “Even though there are few moments of respite at home with three kids, we try to enjoy every second with them, whether it is watching the TV, playing or whatever. We like to stay at home and enjoy these moments. “My wife, Antonela, has lots of great qualities. I really admire how she deals with the day to day, she is always in a good mood and she approaches problems admirably. Most read in World Cup “She is highly intelligent and well rounded in all aspects of life.” The day he became a father for the first time, Messi had his son’s hands tattooed on his calf. He later added Thiago’s name in a heart in between the thumbs because some people thought the tat signified Diego Maradona’s hand of God goal. Messi also got the name of his second son, Mateo, put onto his left arm on the day he was born. And Ciro’s name is inked above the ankle on his right leg, alongside the names and birth dates of all three kids. The football great and his family live in Miami following his big-money move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami in July 2023. Do Messi’s children play football? All three of Messi’s boys play for the Inter Miami Academy. Thiago also previously spent time in the youth systems at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. In an interview with Simplemente Futbol, Messi said he is “more thoughtful, more organised, more of a midfielder”. Middle son Mateo plays as a forward, with his dad explaining that he “likes to score goals and be close to the goal – he is intelligent when playing”. He also told Argentine journalist Sebastian Vignolo: “Mateo is the same as me when I was little. He doesn’t like to lose anything.” Youngest son Ciro has also made a name for himself at the academy, going viral after helping his team win a youth championship, in which he scored twice. Messi described him as “more explosive, more confrontational, more one-on-one, more into making his play”. When asked which of them is the best, Messi kept his cards close to his chest, saying they all “love” to play but he didn’t want to get into trouble when he got home. He added: “The thing is that they see everything now and if I were to name one of them later they’d say, ‘Why did you mention his name?’ “I prefer to keep it to myself and not say anything.” Comment now