Lionel Messi's Wife and Mother Attend His Emotional International Farewell
Antonela Roccuzzo and Celia María Cuccittini joined the Argentina icon for his final match, two months after the passing of his father.
Lionel Messi's international career concluded Tuesday night at Estadio Monumental, with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and mother Celia María Cuccittini present to witness the emotional farewell. The couple's children were also in attendance for the friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires.
Roccuzzo and Cuccittini were seen wearing Messi jerseys, filming the event, and applauding as the 39-year-old player emerged for warm-ups and was introduced to the approximately 85,000 spectators. This marked Messi's 208th and final appearance for Argentina, concluding 21 years of international service that included two Copa America titles and a World Cup victory.
The match against Benin, while otherwise unremarkable, held significant emotional weight. It took place nearly two months after the death of Messi's father, Jorge, who passed away at the age of 68. His father's health had been a concern for the family in the months prior.
Messi had announced his retirement from international football on August 31, just weeks after the World Cup final. Following this farewell game, Messi is expected to continue playing club football for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.